Telstra’s triple zero failure is a result of prioritising neoliberal ‘competition’ and reaping none of its benefits
Guardian AU
•Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:00:55 GMT
📰 What Happened
Economist John Quiggin argues that Telstra's network failure — which prevented hundreds of triple zero calls from getting through — is the inevitable result of Australia's telecommunications policy framework that prioritised competition over reliable delivery of essential services. He traces the problem back to the 1990s policy reforms that broke up Telecom Australia.
🔍 The Backstory
The 2026 Telstra outage follows a similar Optus network failure in 2025 that also disrupted triple zero services. Quiggin notes that Australia's telecommunications duopoly (Telstra and Optus) still controls 70% of the mobile network, despite decades of supposed competition policy. The reforms of the 1990s dismantled Telecom Australia, a statutory corporation that had delivered steady cost reductions and service expansion.
🎯 Why It Matters
The opinion piece reignites debate about the privatisation of essential infrastructure and whether public ownership would deliver more reliable emergency services. With two major telco outages in 12 months both affecting triple zero, there are growing calls for a fundamental rethink of Australia's telecommunications regulatory framework.
Economist John Quiggin argues that Telstra's network failure — which prevented hundreds of triple zero calls from getting through — is the inevitable result of Australia's telecommunications policy framework that prioritised competition over reliable delivery of essential services. He traces the problem back to the 1990s policy reforms that broke up Telecom Australia.
The 2026 Telstra outage follows a similar Optus network failure in 2025 that also disrupted triple zero services. Quiggin notes that Australia's telecommunications duopoly (Telstra and Optus) still controls 70% of the mobile network, despite decades of supposed competition policy. The reforms of the 1990s dismantled Telecom Australia, a statutory corporation that had delivered steady cost reductions and service expansion.
The opinion piece reignites debate about the privatisation of essential infrastructure and whether public ownership would deliver more reliable emergency services. With two major telco outages in 12 months both affecting triple zero, there are growing calls for a fundamental rethink of Australia's telecommunications regulatory framework.