Optus has identified deliberate vandalism as the culprit behind a significant network failure that left thousands of Hunter Valley residents and businesses without reliable phone and internet services.
The telecommunications provider confirmed that malicious damage to critical fibre optic cables triggered widespread outages across the region, impacting everything from mobile connectivity to broadband services.
Widespread Impact Across the Hunter
Customers reported complete service dropouts beginning early Wednesday, with frustration mounting as the blackout extended through the day. The outage affected numerous suburbs and towns throughout the Hunter Valley, leaving many unable to make calls, send messages, or access online services.
"We're aware of an issue impacting some of our services in the Hunter region," an Optus spokesperson stated. "Our initial investigation points to vandalism of our infrastructure as the root cause."
Critical Infrastructure Targeted
While specific details about the location and nature of the damage remain limited, Optus technicians were deployed to multiple sites to assess and repair the compromised infrastructure. The company emphasised that damaging telecommunications equipment constitutes a serious criminal offence.
"This wasn't an equipment failure or technical glitch," the spokesperson continued. "This was a deliberate act that has caused significant inconvenience to our customers."
Restoration Efforts Underway
Optus restoration teams worked throughout the day to reconnect affected services, with most customers reporting gradual restoration of connectivity by Wednesday evening. The company acknowledged the frustration caused by the incident and thanked customers for their patience during the restoration process.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of essential telecommunications infrastructure and the cascading effects that targeted vandalism can have on entire communities.
