Copper theft triggers another Optus network outage affecting thousands

Widespread Service Disruption in Melbourne

Optus experienced another major network outage, this time affecting approximately 14,000 customers across southeast Melbourne. The disruption caused significant connectivity issues for households and businesses relying on Optus services.

Cause of the Outage

According to initial reports, the issue was linked to copper cable theft, which damaged parts of the network’s infrastructure. The incident has once again highlighted vulnerabilities in physical network assets that still rely on legacy copper systems.

Company Response

Optus technical teams were deployed immediately to restore affected lines and minimize customer disruption. The company stated that repairs were underway and that service was expected to resume as soon as possible.

“We are working urgently to restore connectivity and support customers impacted by the outage,” an Optus spokesperson said.

Community Impact

Customers in the affected suburbs reported loss of mobile, internet, and landline services. Some local businesses also faced transaction and communication delays, prompting renewed concern over network resilience in Melbourne’s southern regions.

Author’s summary: Copper theft in southeast Melbourne caused an Optus service outage affecting about 14,000 users, revealing risks tied to aging network infrastructure.

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Total Telecom Total Telecom — 2025-11-27

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