2023 Optus outage: Difference between revisions

2023 Optus outage
Date	8 November 2023
Time	04:00 (AEDT)
Duration	approximately 9–13 hours (services still being restored)
Type	Network outage
Outcome	Disruption of internet and wireless phone service; Government services disrupted, including hospitals & public transport services; Emergency 000 calls failing; Loss of EFTPOS services for many businesses nationwide;

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 07:21, 9 November 2023

The 2023 Optus outage was an unplanned nationwide outage of Optus internet, wireless, mobile and fixed-line services first reported on 8 November 2023 4:05am AEDT.^[1] The outage caused disruption across government and corporate sectors including hospitals, banks, some train services, EFTPOS payment systems and some calls to emergency services.^[1]^[2] Restoration was gradual with some services being restored around 1pm AEDT.^[3] The outage affected approximately 10 million people and 400,000 businesses across Australia.^[4]^[5]

The cause of the outage is unknown but Optus stated that the outage was not due to a cyberattack.^[1]^[6]

Background

Optus is an Australian telecommunications company owned by Singapore Telecommunications. It is the second-largest wireless carrier in Australia, serving over 10 million customers with a 4G network that is reachable by 96.9% of the population.^[7] Around 25% of Australians use Optus for their mobile network and 19% for their broadband.^[8] Australia's mobile network providers do not permit roaming in the event of a major outage or cyber attack.^[9]

Impact

The outage impacted all mobile, wireless, fixed Internet and landline services using the Optus network in Australia.^[10] Public and private sectors, such as banks, hospitals and some train services, were impacted. Some people were unable to call emergency services.^[11] Many businesses were not able to take digital payments via EFTPOS.^[6] Dodo and Amaysim, who both rely on the Optus network as resellers, experienced outages across the country.^[11] Aussie Broadband and Moose Mobile customers were also affected.^[12]

Hundreds of train services were cancelled throughout the day on the Melbourne suburban network, with a citywide shutdown lasting from 5am to 6am, and ripple effects such as delays and cancellations throughout the day. This was due to drivers not being able to communicate with the control centre until a backup was activated.^[13]

Optus lost over AU$2 billion in value over the day of the outage, after its share price dropped 4.8% on the SGX.^[3]

Restoration

At around 13:00 AEDT, roughly nine hours into the outage, some users reported being able to access home internet services. Optus told the public that "a path to restoration" had been found but that complete restoration would take hours.^[14]^[15] At approximately 6pm AEDT, over thirteen hours after the outage began, Optus said that their services had been restored, though many customers still reported slow or no access to services.^[3]

Reactions

The outage raised concerns about the move to a cashless society and Australia's over-reliance on internet access.^[16]

South Australia's government is reconsidering using Optus as its service provider.^[15]

The federal government has called for financial compensation to those affected by the outage.^[17] Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced a review into the matter.^[18]

Technical analysis

Enex TestLab managing director Matt Tett suggested that a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing problem might have played a role in the outage.^[19]^[20]^[21] Matt cited public data from CloudFlare which showed a higher-than-average spike in BGP route announcements in an Optus autonomous system around the time the outage occurred—seeing over 940,000 announcements in an hour from a node which normally makes less than 3,000 announcements per hour—consistent with a misconfigured BGP router.^[20]^[22]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Optus outage hits millions: Telco says services fully restored after nearly 14 hours". www.9news.com.au. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
^ "Optus outage affects millions of customers across Australia". amp.smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Optus says outage fixed after nearly 14 hours". www.9news.com.au. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Jose, Renju; Needham, Kirsty; Kaye, Ron (8 November 2023). "Optus network outage affects millions of Australians". Reuters. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/companies/federal-government-to-investigate-national-optus-outage-ceo-under-fire/news-story/338ec96645f4443519cb52d2343e6978?nk=6493e2ec8cda8d6eab7c46d6a3486fdf-1699501171
^ ^a ^b Seeto, Tamika (8 November 2023). "Optus outage: Services 'gradually' resuming for millions of Aussies but 'may take hours'". Yahoo Finance. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Reichert, Corinne (16 May 2018). "Optus doubles NBN customers as mobile subs hit 10 million". ZDNET. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Grant-Geary, Belinda (8 November 2023). "Optus outage: Is outage 'final straw' for frustrated Aussies considering 'mass exodus'". yahoo! finance. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Bolger, Rosemary (8 November 2023). "Optus outage prompts calls to force telcos to switch customers onto other networks when one fails". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Varghese, Sam (8 November 2023). "Optus hit by national mobile, broadband outage since 4am". iTWire. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b Smith, Paul; Wiggins, Jenny (7 November 2023). "Optus outage cuts off millions, emergency calls". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Turnbull, Tiffanie (8 November 2023). "Optus outage: Millions affected by Australian network failure". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ "About 500 train services cancelled across Melbourne after outage". www.9news.com.au. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Maguire, Dannielle; Dervisevic, Hanan (7 November 2023). "Optus outage live: Company announces some services are being restored, but warns it may take a few hours". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b Wind, Emily; Cait, Kelly (8 November 2023). "Australia news live: Optus network outage; CEO says 'path to restoration' found after nine-hour blackout; SA government considers dumping Optus". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Seeto, Tamika (8 November 2023). "Cashless Australia: Optus outage 'proof' Australia could be 'doomed'". yahoo! finance. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Jeffrey, Daniel (9 November 2023). "Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage?". 9 News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
^ Vidler, Adam (9 November 2023). "Optus outage: Government pledges review into network collapse". 9 News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
^ Swan, David; Grubb, Ben (8 November 2023). "What caused the Optus outage?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b Davidson, John (8 November 2023). "What early signs suggest may have gone wrong at Optus". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
^ Taylor, Josh (8 November 2023). "Optus network outage may have been caused by same issue that brought Facebook down in 2021". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
^ "Overview for AS4804". Optus. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[:4-1] "Optus outage hits millions: Telco says services fully restored after nearly 14 hours". www.9news.com.au. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

[2] "Optus outage affects millions of customers across Australia". amp.smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[:3-3] "Optus says outage fixed after nearly 14 hours". www.9news.com.au. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[4] Jose, Renju; Needham, Kirsty; Kaye, Ron (8 November 2023). "Optus network outage affects millions of Australians". Reuters. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[5] ttps://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/companies/federal-government-to-investigate-national-optus-outage-ceo-under-fire/news-story/338ec96645f4443519cb52d2343e6978?nk=6493e2ec8cda8d6eab7c46d6a3486fdf-1699501171

[:0-6] Seeto, Tamika (8 November 2023). "Optus outage: Services 'gradually' resuming for millions of Aussies but 'may take hours'". Yahoo Finance. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[7] Reichert, Corinne (16 May 2018). "Optus doubles NBN customers as mobile subs hit 10 million". ZDNET. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[ooi-8] Grant-Geary, Belinda (8 November 2023). "Optus outage: Is outage 'final straw' for frustrated Aussies considering 'mass exodus'". yahoo! finance. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[oop-9] Bolger, Rosemary (8 November 2023). "Optus outage prompts calls to force telcos to switch customers onto other networks when one fails". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[10] Varghese, Sam (8 November 2023). "Optus hit by national mobile, broadband outage since 4am". iTWire. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[:1-11] Smith, Paul; Wiggins, Jenny (7 November 2023). "Optus outage cuts off millions, emergency calls". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[oom-12] Turnbull, Tiffanie (8 November 2023). "Optus outage: Millions affected by Australian network failure". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[13] "About 500 train services cancelled across Melbourne after outage". www.9news.com.au. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[14] Maguire, Dannielle; Dervisevic, Hanan (7 November 2023). "Optus outage live: Company announces some services are being restored, but warns it may take a few hours". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[:2-15] Wind, Emily; Cait, Kelly (8 November 2023). "Australia news live: Optus network outage; CEO says 'path to restoration' found after nine-hour blackout; SA government considers dumping Optus". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[cao-16] Seeto, Tamika (8 November 2023). "Cashless Australia: Optus outage 'proof' Australia could be 'doomed'". yahoo! finance. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[cyg-17] Jeffrey, Daniel (9 November 2023). "Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage?". 9 News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

[oog-18] Vidler, Adam (9 November 2023). "Optus outage: Government pledges review into network collapse". 9 News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

[19] Swan, David; Grubb, Ben (8 November 2023). "What caused the Optus outage?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[AFR_BGP-20] Davidson, John (8 November 2023). "What early signs suggest may have gone wrong at Optus". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[21] Taylor, Josh (8 November 2023). "Optus network outage may have been caused by same issue that brought Facebook down in 2021". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

[22] "Overview for AS4804". Optus. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 | time = 04:00 ([[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]])
 }}
-On 8 November 2023 at around 04:00 [[AEDT]], [[Optus]], a large telecommunications and Internet provider, suffered a nationwide outage that affected at least 10 million people in [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Jose |first1=Renju |last2=Needham |first2=Kirsty |last3=Kaye |first3=Ron |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus network outage affects millions of Australians |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/australias-optus-hit-by-national-network-outage-2023-11-07/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108031230/https://www.reuters.com/technology/australias-optus-hit-by-national-network-outage-2023-11-07/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Over 400,000 business customers, including hospitals, banks and train services were also impacted.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Optus outage affects millions of customers across Australia |url=https://amp.smh.com.au/national/major-optus-outage-affects-millions-of-customers-20231108-p5eics.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=amp.smh.com.au |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108110446/https://amp.smh.com.au/national/major-optus-outage-affects-millions-of-customers-20231108-p5eics.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
+The '''2023 Optus outage''' was an unplanned nationwide [[Network outage|outage]] of [[Optus]] internet, [[Wireless network|wireless]], [[Cellular network|mobile]] and [[Landline|fixed-line]] services first reported on 8 November 2023 4:05am [[AEDT]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus outage hits millions: Telco says services fully restored after nearly 14 hours |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-australia-wide-millions-affected-updates/70501aaf-9bb7-45ed-9569-cf682e5e8bc5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109064029/https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-australia-wide-millions-affected-updates/70501aaf-9bb7-45ed-9569-cf682e5e8bc5 |archive-date=2023-11-09 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=www.9news.com.au}}</ref> The outage caused disruption across government and corporate sectors including hospitals, banks, some train services, [[EFTPOS]] payment systems and some calls to [[Triple-0|emergency services]].<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Optus outage affects millions of customers across Australia |url=https://amp.smh.com.au/national/major-optus-outage-affects-millions-of-customers-20231108-p5eics.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108110446/https://amp.smh.com.au/national/major-optus-outage-affects-millions-of-customers-20231108-p5eics.html |archive-date=8 November 2023 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=amp.smh.com.au}}</ref> Restoration was gradual with some services being restored around 1pm [[AEDT]].<ref name=":3" /> The outage affected approximately 10 million people and 400,000 businesses across [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Jose |first1=Renju |last2=Needham |first2=Kirsty |last3=Kaye |first3=Ron |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus network outage affects millions of Australians |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/australias-optus-hit-by-national-network-outage-2023-11-07/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108031230/https://www.reuters.com/technology/australias-optus-hit-by-national-network-outage-2023-11-07/ |archive-date=8 November 2023}}</ref><ref>https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/companies/federal-government-to-investigate-national-optus-outage-ceo-under-fire/news-story/338ec96645f4443519cb52d2343e6978?nk=6493e2ec8cda8d6eab7c46d6a3486fdf-1699501171</ref>
+The cause of the outage is unknown but Optus stated that the outage was not due to a [[cyberattack]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" />
 == Background ==
 Optus is an Australian [[Telecommunications in Australia|telecommunications]] company owned by [[Singtel|Singapore Telecommunications]]. It is the [[List of mobile network operators of the Asia Pacific region#Australia|second-largest wireless carrier in Australia]], serving over 10 million customers with a [[4G connectivity in Australia|4G network]] that is reachable by 96.9% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Optus doubles NBN customers as mobile subs hit 10 million |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/optus-doubles-nbn-customers-as-mobile-subs-hit-10-million/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=ZDNET |language=en |first1=Corinne |last1=Reichert |date=May 16, 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024212051/https://www.zdnet.com/article/optus-doubles-nbn-customers-as-mobile-subs-hit-10-million/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Around 25% of Australians use Optus for their mobile network and 19% for their [[broadband]].<ref name="ooi">{{cite news |last=Grant-Geary |first=Belinda |date=8 November 2023 |title=Optus outage: Is outage 'final straw' for frustrated Aussies considering 'mass exodus' |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/optus-outage-is-outage-final-straw-for-frustrated-aussies-considering-mass-exodus-013629547.html |work=yahoo! finance |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108140713/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/optus-outage-is-outage-final-straw-for-frustrated-aussies-considering-mass-exodus-013629547.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Australia's mobile network providers do not permit [[roaming]] in the event of a major outage or cyber attack.<ref name="oop">{{cite news |last=Bolger |first=Rosemary |date=8 November 2023 |title=Optus outage prompts calls to force telcos to switch customers onto other networks when one fails |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-08/optus-outage-roaming-customers-switch-to-networks-fail/103080582 |work=ABC News |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108073609/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-08/optus-outage-roaming-customers-switch-to-networks-fail/103080582 |url-status=live }}</ref>
-== Outage ==
+== Impact ==
-At about 04:00 AEDT, mobile and landline services using Optus went down around the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varghese |first=Sam |title=Optus hit by national mobile, broadband outage since 4am |url=https://itwire.com/it-industry-news/telecoms-and-nbn/optus-hit-by-national-mobile,-broadband-outage-since-4am.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=iTWire |date=8 November 2023 |language=en-gb |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108161846/https://itwire.com/it-industry-news/telecoms-and-nbn/optus-hit-by-national-mobile,-broadband-outage-since-4am.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Services such as banks and emergency lines were cut off due to the outage, with many people unable to call [[000 (emergency telephone number)|emergency services]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title=Optus outage cuts off millions, emergency calls |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/chaos-as-optus-crashes-nationwide-20231108-p5eid1 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en |first1=Paul |last1=Smith |first2=Jenny |last2=Wiggins |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108030028/https://www.afr.com/technology/chaos-as-optus-crashes-nationwide-20231108-p5eid1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Many businesses were not able to take digital payments via [[EFTPOS]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus outage: Services 'gradually' resuming for millions of Aussies but 'may take hours' |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/optus-outage-services-gradually-resuming-for-millions-of-aussies-but-may-take-hours-025933267.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-AU |first1=Tamika |last1=Seeto |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108031735/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/optus-outage-services-gradually-resuming-for-millions-of-aussies-but-may-take-hours-025933267.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dodo Services|Dodo]] and [[Amaysim]], who both rely on the Optus network as resellers, experienced outages across the country.<ref name=":1" />  [[Aussie Broadband]] and Moose Mobile customers were also affected.<ref name="oom">{{cite news |last=Turnbull |first=Tiffanie |date=8 November 2023 |title=Optus outage: Millions affected by Australian network failure |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67340901 |work=BBC |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108023530/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67340901 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+The outage impacted all mobile, wireless, fixed Internet and landline services using the Optus network in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varghese |first=Sam |title=Optus hit by national mobile, broadband outage since 4am |url=https://itwire.com/it-industry-news/telecoms-and-nbn/optus-hit-by-national-mobile,-broadband-outage-since-4am.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=iTWire |date=8 November 2023 |language=en-gb |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108161846/https://itwire.com/it-industry-news/telecoms-and-nbn/optus-hit-by-national-mobile,-broadband-outage-since-4am.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Public and private sectors, such as banks, hospitals and some train services, were impacted. Some people were unable to call [[000 (emergency telephone number)|emergency services]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title=Optus outage cuts off millions, emergency calls |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/chaos-as-optus-crashes-nationwide-20231108-p5eid1 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en |first1=Paul |last1=Smith |first2=Jenny |last2=Wiggins |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108030028/https://www.afr.com/technology/chaos-as-optus-crashes-nationwide-20231108-p5eid1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Many businesses were not able to take digital payments via [[EFTPOS]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus outage: Services 'gradually' resuming for millions of Aussies but 'may take hours' |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/optus-outage-services-gradually-resuming-for-millions-of-aussies-but-may-take-hours-025933267.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-AU |first1=Tamika |last1=Seeto |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108031735/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/optus-outage-services-gradually-resuming-for-millions-of-aussies-but-may-take-hours-025933267.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dodo Services|Dodo]] and [[Amaysim]], who both rely on the Optus network as resellers, experienced outages across the country.<ref name=":1" /> [[Aussie Broadband]] and Moose Mobile customers were also affected.<ref name="oom">{{cite news |last=Turnbull |first=Tiffanie |date=8 November 2023 |title=Optus outage: Millions affected by Australian network failure |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67340901 |work=BBC |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108023530/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67340901 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 Hundreds of train services were cancelled throughout the day on the [[Railways in Melbourne|Melbourne suburban network]], with a citywide shutdown lasting from 5am to 6am, and [[ripple effect]]s such as delays and cancellations throughout the day. This was due to drivers not being able to communicate with the control centre until a backup was activated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=About 500 train services cancelled across Melbourne after outage |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/metro-trains-melbourne-stop-working-communications-outage-updates/7d3b22a3-9973-4926-925f-7a68e242e734 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=www.9news.com.au |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108104252/https://www.9news.com.au/national/metro-trains-melbourne-stop-working-communications-outage-updates/7d3b22a3-9973-4926-925f-7a68e242e734 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Optus lost over AU$2 billion in value over the day of the outage, after its share price dropped 4.8% on the [[Singapore Exchange|SGX]].<ref name=":3" />
-=== Cause ===
-According to technical experts, the outage appears to have been caused by a network routing problem in the form of a [[Border Gateway Protocol]] (BGP) prefix flood.<ref>{{cite news |last2=Grubb |first1=David |last1=Swan |first2=Ben |title=What caused the Optus outage? |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/what-caused-the-optus-outage-20231108-p5eiep.html |access-date=8 November 2023 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 November 2023 |language=en |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108021952/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/what-caused-the-optus-outage-20231108-p5eiep.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AFR BGP">{{cite web |last1=Davidson |first1=John |title=What early signs suggest may have gone wrong at Optus |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/what-early-signs-suggest-may-have-gone-wrong-at-optus-20231108-p5eig9 |website=Australian Financial Review |access-date=8 November 2023 |date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108104510/https://www.afr.com/technology/what-early-signs-suggest-may-have-gone-wrong-at-optus-20231108-p5eig9 |url-status=live }}</ref> Publicly available data from [[CloudFlare]] shows a significant spike in BGP route announcements in an Optus [[Autonomous system (Internet)|autonomous system]] on the day of the outage—seeing over 940,000 announcements in an hour from a node which normally makes less than 3,000 announcements per hour—consistent with a misconfiguration of a BGP router.<ref name="AFR BGP"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview for AS4804 |url=https://radar.cloudflare.com/as4804?dateStart=2023-11-06&dateEnd=2023-11-08 |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=Optus}}</ref>
 == Restoration ==
-At around 13:00, roughly nine hours into the outage, some users reported being able to access home internet services. Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said that the company was working on resolving the issue, but warned the public that it could take many hours.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-07 |title=Optus outage live: Company announces some services are being restored, but warns it may take a few hours |first1=Dannielle |last1=Maguire |first2=Hanan |last2=Dervisevic |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-08/optus-outage-live-blog/103076996 |access-date=2023-11-08 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108032256/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-08/optus-outage-live-blog/103076996 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last1=Wind |first1=Emily |date=2023-11-08 |title=Australia news live: Optus network outage; CEO says 'path to restoration' found after nine-hour blackout; SA government considers dumping Optus |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2023/nov/08/australia-news-live-optus-outage-trains-melbourne-prime-minister-athony-albanese-china-pacific-aukus-daysleford-driver |access-date=2023-11-08 |issn=0261-3077 |last2=Cait |first2=Kelly |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108033421/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2023/nov/08/australia-news-live-optus-outage-trains-melbourne-prime-minister-athony-albanese-china-pacific-aukus-daysleford-driver |url-status=live }}</ref> Optus stated that the outage was not a [[cyberattack]].<ref name=":0" /> At approximately 18:00, over thirteen hours after the outage began, Optus said that their services had been restored, however many customers still reported slow or no access to services.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus says outage fixed after nearly 14 hours |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-australia-wide-millions-affected-updates/70501aaf-9bb7-45ed-9569-cf682e5e8bc5?ocid=Social-9News |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=www.9news.com.au |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108192805/https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-australia-wide-millions-affected-updates/70501aaf-9bb7-45ed-9569-cf682e5e8bc5?ocid=Social-9News |url-status=live }}</ref>
+At around 13:00 [[AEDT]], roughly nine hours into the outage, some users reported being able to access home internet services. Optus told the public that "a path to restoration" had been found but that complete restoration would take hours.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Maguire |first1=Dannielle |last2=Dervisevic |first2=Hanan |date=2023-11-07 |title=Optus outage live: Company announces some services are being restored, but warns it may take a few hours |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-08/optus-outage-live-blog/103076996 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108032256/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-08/optus-outage-live-blog/103076996 |archive-date=8 November 2023}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last1=Wind |first1=Emily |last2=Cait |first2=Kelly |date=2023-11-08 |title=Australia news live: Optus network outage; CEO says 'path to restoration' found after nine-hour blackout; SA government considers dumping Optus |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2023/nov/08/australia-news-live-optus-outage-trains-melbourne-prime-minister-athony-albanese-china-pacific-aukus-daysleford-driver |url-status=live |access-date=2023-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108033421/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2023/nov/08/australia-news-live-optus-outage-trains-melbourne-prime-minister-athony-albanese-china-pacific-aukus-daysleford-driver |archive-date=8 November 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> At approximately 6pm [[AEDT]], over thirteen hours after the outage began, Optus said that their services had been restored, though many customers still reported slow or no access to services.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus says outage fixed after nearly 14 hours |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-australia-wide-millions-affected-updates/70501aaf-9bb7-45ed-9569-cf682e5e8bc5?ocid=Social-9News |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=www.9news.com.au |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108192805/https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-australia-wide-millions-affected-updates/70501aaf-9bb7-45ed-9569-cf682e5e8bc5?ocid=Social-9News |url-status=live }}</ref>
+== Reactions ==
+The outage raised concerns about the move to a [[cashless society]] and Australia's over-reliance on internet access.<ref name="cao">{{cite news |last=Seeto |first=Tamika |date=8 November 2023 |title=Cashless Australia: Optus outage 'proof' Australia could be 'doomed' |work=yahoo! finance |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/cashless-australia-optus-outage-proof-australia-could-be-doomed-033155276.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108120030/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/cashless-australia-optus-outage-proof-australia-could-be-doomed-033155276.html |archive-date=8 November 2023}}</ref>
+[[South Australia]]'s government is reconsidering using Optus as its service provider.<ref name=":2" />
-== Reactions and aftermath ==
-As a result of the outage, [[South Australia]]'s government is reconsidering using Optus as its service provider.<ref name=":2" /> Optus lost over AU$2 billion in value over the day of the outage, after its share price dropped 4.8% on the [[Singapore Exchange|SGX]].<ref name=":3" />  The outage raised concerns about the move to a [[cashless society]] and Australia's over-reliance on internet access.<ref name="cao">{{cite news |last=Seeto |first=Tamika |date=8 November 2023 |title=Cashless Australia: Optus outage 'proof' Australia could be 'doomed' |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/cashless-australia-optus-outage-proof-australia-could-be-doomed-033155276.html |work=yahoo! finance |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108120030/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/cashless-australia-optus-outage-proof-australia-could-be-doomed-033155276.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
-The federal government has called for financial compensation to those affected by the outage.<ref name="cyg">{{cite news |last=Jeffrey |first=Daniel |date=9 November 2023 |title=Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage? |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-compensation-can-i-get-refund-explained/4d6ef86b-456c-497c-9006-f1f6ae9c4086 |work=9 News |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref> Communications Minister [[Michelle Rowland]] announced a review into the matter.<ref name="oog">{{cite news |last=Vidler |first=Adam |date=9 November 2023 |title=Optus outage: Government pledges review into network collapse |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-fallout-government-to-launch-review-into-telco-failure/a47a8db4-8779-461c-a959-e40ee1738fc9 |work=9 News |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>
+The federal government has called for financial compensation to those affected by the outage.<ref name="cyg">{{cite news |last=Jeffrey |first=Daniel |date=9 November 2023 |title=Can you get compensation for the massive Optus outage? |work=9 News |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-compensation-can-i-get-refund-explained/4d6ef86b-456c-497c-9006-f1f6ae9c4086 |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref> Communications Minister [[Michelle Rowland]] announced a review into the matter.<ref name="oog">{{cite news |last=Vidler |first=Adam |date=9 November 2023 |title=Optus outage: Government pledges review into network collapse |work=9 News |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-fallout-government-to-launch-review-into-telco-failure/a47a8db4-8779-461c-a959-e40ee1738fc9 |access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>
+== Technical analysis ==
+Enex TestLab managing director [[Matt Tett]] suggested that a [[Border Gateway Protocol]] (BGP) routing problem might have played a role in the outage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=David |last2=Grubb |first2=Ben |date=8 November 2023 |title=What caused the Optus outage? |language=en |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/what-caused-the-optus-outage-20231108-p5eiep.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108021952/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/what-caused-the-optus-outage-20231108-p5eiep.html |archive-date=8 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="AFR BGP">{{cite web |last1=Davidson |first1=John |date=8 November 2023 |title=What early signs suggest may have gone wrong at Optus |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/what-early-signs-suggest-may-have-gone-wrong-at-optus-20231108-p5eig9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108104510/https://www.afr.com/technology/what-early-signs-suggest-may-have-gone-wrong-at-optus-20231108-p5eig9 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=Australian Financial Review}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Josh |date=2023-11-08 |title=Optus network outage may have been caused by same issue that brought Facebook down in 2021 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/08/optus-network-outage-cause-what-happened-explained |access-date=2023-11-09 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Matt cited public data from [[CloudFlare]] which showed a higher-than-average spike in BGP route announcements in an Optus [[Autonomous system (Internet)|autonomous system]] around the time the outage occurred—seeing over 940,000 announcements in an hour from a node which normally makes less than 3,000 announcements per hour—consistent with a misconfigured BGP router.<ref name="AFR BGP" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview for AS4804 |url=https://radar.cloudflare.com/as4804?dateStart=2023-11-06&dateEnd=2023-11-08 |access-date=8 November 2023 |website=Optus}}</ref>
 == See also ==