Optus is working to manage the significant impact to Optus services that has occurred

as a result of a series of extreme weather events in the south east region of Queensland

and the north coast region of New South Wales, beginning on Sunday 16 November

through to Monday 17 November 2008.

 

Due to the effect of damage to the Optus telecommunications network by severe

weather including thunderstorms, there has been a significant increase in the number of

Optus services being reported as faulty. As a result, there has been some disruption to

service and delays to normal installation and repair activities. Optus apologises to any

affected customers.

 

Information as to the nature of these severe weather events can be sourced from the

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and

large hailstones referred to in the BOM Severe Weather Warning issued for Sunday 16

November initially at 12:46 pm; all of which have now been widely reported in the news

media since these events.

 

Optus has identified that the effect of these circumstances applies to approximately 5577services on Optus’ cable network and 2830 Optus Direct and resale services in both Queensland and New South Wales. This number may increase as Optus assesses the full impact of the extreme weather conditions. Based on current information, the resumption date of normal service operations is expected to be 25 November 2008 for services on Optus’ cable network and 8 December 2008 for Optus Direct and resale services. This date is indicative only; Optus customers should anticipate that some further delays may occur. Optus regrets any inconvenience caused to customers and thanks them for their patience while this work is being undertaken.

 

Optus services encompassed in the New South Wales component of this exemption are located in the following area of New South Wales, that is bounded by and includes, but

is not limited to the area starting at Tweed Heads on the NSW/QLD border, then south

along the coast through Byron Bay and Ballina to the Broadwater National Park. From

the Broadwater National Park continue west through Coraki to Tabulam South, then

north to Tooloom, then northeast to Woodenbong, then northwest to the NSW/QLD

border at the eastern boundary of the Main Range National Park. From the Main Range

National Park, follow the NSW/QLD border in an easterly direction back to Tweed Heads.

 

Optus services encompassed in the Queensland component this exemption are in the area bounded by and including, but not limited to the area starting at Rainbow Beach on the coast follow the coastline south past Caloundra, Redcliffe and Southport then to the QLD/NSW Border. Then follow the NSW/QLD border in a westerly direction to the eastern boundary of the Main Range National Park. From Main Range National

Park, follow the boundary in a north-westerly direction to Mt Castle then northeast to Coleyville. From Colleyville continue northwest to Mount Walker and then west to Brookstead, then continuing northeast to Acland, then north through Kumbia to Windera, then southeast to Amamoor and then east back to Rainbow Beach. All suburbs, towns, off shore islands and coastal areas serviced by Optus within these boundaries are encompassed in this exemption

 

Services on Optus’ cable network in the area mentioned above with phone numbers in the 07 3038 7000 to 07 3904 9999 range may have been affected, as well as some services which have been transferred from other providers. 

 

Optus Direct and resale services in the area mentioned above with phone numbers in the following number ranges may have been affected:

 

02 6621 2000 To 02 6649 7838          02 6661 3500 To 02 6689 9497

02 5606 0000 To 02 5606 8999          02 5611 2000 To 02 5611 9999

02 6699 2000 To 026699 3999

07 3113 3000 To 07 3113 3999          07 3133 0000 To 07 3143 9999

07 3161 0000 To 07 3162 9999          07 3472 5000 To 07 3476 9999

07 3496 0000 To 07 3496 2999          07 3612 0000 To 07 3612 7999

07 4183 6000 To 07 4183 7999          07 4528 1000 To 07 4528 3999

07 5309 4000 To 07 5309 6999          07 5324 0000 To 07 5326 9999

07 5330 0000 To 07 5331 4999          07 5605 8000 To 07 5609 3999

07 5659 0000 To 07 5659 9999          07 5667 9000 To 07 5679 9999         

07 3003 0000 To 07 3012 9999          07 3800 0000 To 07 3907 0999

07 3030 0025 To 07 3030 9817          07 4124 6891 To 07 4129 9299

07 3200 0000 To 07 3300 9999          07 4162 1000 To 07 4179 9099

07 3311 1080 To 07 3325 5999          07 4612 3000 To 07 4639 6999

07 3341 0000 To 07 3437 8999          07 4659 0000 To 07 4667 4895

07 3480 5000 To 07 3511 7999          07 4683 5345 To 07 4699 3999

07 3601 0364 To 07 3602 5448          07 5411 4000 To 07 5411 4999

07 3630 0000 To 07 3666 0999          07 5422 0000 To 07 5599 9999

07 3700 4012 To 07 3720 9999

 

As these circumstances were outside of Optus’s control, Optus is claiming an extension

to time frames applying under the Telecommunications (Customer Service Guarantee)

Standard 2000 (No.2). This means that Optus is notifying customers that normal service

time frames may not be met during the period of 18 November 2008 to 8 December

2008 inclusive (based on Optus’s estimated recovery schedule correct at the time of

publication of this notice).

 

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for a CSG payment under this notice, or wish to have us reconsider whether the circumstances were a proper basis for claiming an exemption, please contact Optus via email on wrcsg@optus.com.au - quoting CSG exemption reference number MSDQLD-South East18112008_LRU. You can also view a copy of this notice on the Optus Wholesale Extranet at www.optus.com.au/wholesalenet.