Optus outages and service status in Forster, New South Wales

Problems in the last 24 hours in Forster, New South Wales

The chart below shows the number of Optus reports we have received in the last 24 hours from users in Forster, New South Wales and surrounding areas. An outage is declared when the number of reports exceeds the baseline, represented by the red line.

Community Discussion

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Optus Issues Reports

Latest outage, problems and issue reports in social media:

• 
  Oz Trooper (@TrooperOz) reported 9 minutes ago

  @jbulldogs4 Not really as its still ongoing. They told people to use a optus or vodafone device thats not Telstra. Thats some reliable service isnt it. Shouldn’t be happening but probably a overseas disgruntled workers!.

• 
  A K (@AK22762976) reported 10 minutes ago

  @PaulBongiorno Oh woe is me ! Just purchase a sim card supported by Optus [this is redundancy contingency] when Telstra goes off line swap out their sim & slot in the backup & vice versa. Alteratively purchase a dual sim phone which allows you to switch between service providers

• 
  dick_taylor (@dick_taylor) reported 12 minutes ago

  @VoteLewko On my mates farm in the coast they have redundancy (Starlink) & anothet mate who runs ASIC’s infrastructure says they have always had both Telstra & Optus to try & avoid over reliance on a single network. So if farmers & some federal bureaucrats know this why don’t Victoria’s?🤡

• 
  James (@ladsgeog) reported 14 minutes ago

  @PGJohnson77 @Adrian_Arciuli @FIFAWorldCup Adelaide Oval and Optus are fine because AO is narrow and Optus has raised seats. Agree that the MCG is a very poor viewing experience.

• 
  Horrible Lizard (@horriblelizard) reported 16 minutes ago

  isn't this like the third major nationwide outage where "oh **** people couldn't even dial 000" from telstra and optus in like two years

• 
  FreoLou⚓🤘🛫⚖️ (@FreoLou) reported 17 minutes ago

  Better get my pre game post out before Optus is full and the network fails to load. Tonight is a test @freodockers . You have studied for it. You have prepared. Now it is time get out there and ace the exam. Harness the nerves and kick between the two big sticks #foreverfreo

• 
  BRODA (@RazeBannon) reported 19 minutes ago

  Ask Grok: Can ISPs block VOIP? Yes, ISPs can block Voice over IP (VoIP) traffic at their network level, and many do so in practice. This is technically feasible using tools like port blocking, deep packet inspection (DPI), and other traffic management techniques. How ISPs Block VoIP ISPs control the core network infrastructure, so they can inspect and filter traffic before it reaches customers. Common methods include: Port-based blocking**: Traditional VoIP often uses specific ports like UDP 5060/5061 for SIP (signaling) and a range of ports (e.g., 10000–20000) for RTP (media/voice). ISPs can simply drop traffic on these ports. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)**: This examines not just headers but packet contents, signatures, packet sizes, timing, and protocol behavior to identify VoIP even if it uses non-standard ports or obfuscation. DPI can dynamically detect and block SIP, RTP, or app-specific patterns (e.g., Skype, WhatsApp calls). IP address or domain blacklisting**: Blocking known servers of VoIP providers. Protocol anomaly detection or traffic shaping**: Dropping or throttling UDP-heavy, low-latency streams typical of voice calls. Real-World Examples Certain countries and carriers (e.g., in the Middle East, Morocco, Philippines, or places with state telecom monopolies) block VoIP to protect traditional phone revenue or for regulatory reasons. Mobile providers like Optus 4G or others have blocked SIP traffic. Corporate/school networks or bandwidth-limited ISPs sometimes block or deprioritize VoIP to conserve resources. China has historically blocked VoIP, though workarounds emerged over time. Limitations and Challenges for Complete Blocking Encryption and obfuscation**: Modern VoIP (e.g., over WebRTC, HTTPS, or apps like Signal/WhatsApp) is harder to detect reliably. DPI isn't foolproof against randomized ports, variable packet patterns, or VPN-like wrapping. VPNs and tunnels**: Users can often bypass blocks by routing traffic through a VPN, which encrypts and hides the VoIP signature. Evasion techniques**: Providers and users adapt with port hopping, STUN/TURN servers, or proxies. False positives**: Overly aggressive blocking can disrupt other UDP-based services (gaming, video streaming). Complete, unbreakable blocking is difficult long-term without also harming general internet performance, but partial or effective blocking for most users is very achievable. Why ISPs Do This Reasons include protecting legacy telephony revenue, complying with regulations, managing bandwidth, reducing congestion, or enforcing content policies. In summary, yes—ISPs have both the capability and precedent for blocking VoIP, primarily via DPI and port controls, though motivated users can often circumvent it. If you're dealing with a specific ISP or scenario, details could help narrow down options. TCP/IP allows spam filters at the node level. This is one small example. TCP/IP remains neutral and ethical.

• 
  Acer (@GalaticGain) reported 21 minutes ago

  Optus is down

• 
  Lister (@exRSaddict) reported 26 minutes ago

  @IanBatchelor11 @australian i worked for origin this exact issue was raised as an issue my manager ( who was at Optus when they had the databreach) said it wasn't an issue

• 
  saint_ted (@saint_ted3) reported 28 minutes ago

  @Woodygocats59 @TonyShepherd4 Didn't happen with the Optus outage. 000 was unavailable for hours and nobody including Optus seemed to know it was still unavailable. Learn from pervious failures champ. FFS, what plane was the communications minister on this time?