Vodafone network meltdown devastates thousands of users

In a world where many have become increasingly reliant on our mobile phones for everything from communication to navigation, a network outage can cause significant disruption.

This was the unfortunate reality for thousands of Vodafone customers across Australia, when a massive network crash left them without mobile phone service.



The outage began around 4:30 pm, affecting many mobile phone services provided by the telecommunications giant.

Down Detector, a platform that tracks outages in mobile phone services, internet, banking, and social media services, reported a surge in complaints from Vodafone customers.


SDC 1.jpg
Thousands of Vodafone users across Australia reported mobile phone service outages. Image source: Vodafone Australia.


A spokesperson from Vodafone confirmed the outage, saying, 'We can confirm a brief technical issue this afternoon caused intermittent disruption to some mobile services including calls and data.'

'Our technical teams have resolved the issue, and services are returning to normal.'

'We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience and thank them for their patience.'



However, the apology did little to quell the frustration of customers who could not make calls or use data during the outage.

Social media was flooded with complaints from disgruntled users who were caught in highly inconvenient situations due to the network crash.

One woman reported having 'major issues' with the network, stating, 'I can't make calls. Vodafone hasn't said anything, but Down Detector online indicated heaps of people with Vodafone are having problems at the moment.'

'A couple of minutes ago, my signal went to SOS only…[now] back to four bars, but still can't make calls.'



Another woman found herself in a service black hole during a phone screening call for a job she had applied for, describing the situation as 'so bad and ridiculous'.

'The worst part was I was in a phone screening call for a job that I've applied [for], and really wanted it so much,' she said.

At the peak of the outage, more than 5000 incidents of mobile phone reception and connection issues were reported to the Down Detector website.

The number has since decreased over time, with only 351 incidents of mobile phone connectivity issues reported as of 6:34 pm.

Late last year, a similar outage occurred with Optus, resulting in crippled business operations across various industries.
Key Takeaways
  • Thousands of Vodafone customers across Australia experienced a network crash that left them without mobile phone service.
  • The outage, reported by Down Detector, was due to a technical issue that disrupted mobile services, including calls and data.
  • Vodafone's technical teams have resolved the issue and services began returning to normal, with the company apologising for the inconvenience.
  • Customers expressed frustration on social media, with some experiencing major disruptions to their phone usage at critical times.
Have you experienced a network outage? How did it impact you? Share your experiences in the comments below.
 
Sponsored
So, is this Old News or New News? How long ago did it happen?
 
  • Like
Reactions: elaine41
Strange how no one is complaining about the Telstra outage yesterday. Do these outages only get reported if they happen in the big city & country users don't matter?

On the same day we had at least 4 hours of outage of Chs 7 & 9 in the morning & 4.5 hours in the evening but it didn't even make the news which really only reports what has happened in Sydney because the rest of the state doesn't exist as far as they are concerned.
 
It was due, Vodafone always have an outage after Optus therefore Telstra should be next. It is inevitable that technology has a few issues here and there because of the complexities. The main complainants are customers who complain about not having something that is not working? That is somewhat puzzling don't you think?
 
  • Like
Reactions: JedCorella
If you depend on a mobile phone perhaps one should consider having 3 phones in your pocket like one of each. I note the CEO of Optus when they had an outage had a Telstra phone as a back up .
 
It was due, Vodafone always have an outage after Optus therefore Telstra should be next. It is inevitable that technology has a few issues here and there because of the complexities. The main complainants are customers who complain about not having something that is not working? That is somewhat puzzling don't you think?
Telstra already had a meltdown with no or next to no service for 10 days. Telstra should get a great kick up the arse for their behaviour. Unfortunately living in the country we have no other choice but to use this company that treats their customers as an inconvenience!!
 
  • Like
  • Angry
Reactions: DiRose and terri
Vodaphone didn't work in Sydney, I lived in west Ryde a while, the phone would ring, then drop out. I had to phone people back once I was away from the house. Waste of time and money and very frustrating.
 
Nothing quite like having a land line is there?????
Until it goes out of service because there was a bad storm or some dill cut the line or in my case many years ago, a technician was installing someone’s service & took the bits that connected our service for theirs. Unfortunately for the tech my husband was on call & we had an official Telstra landline. They insisted nothing could be done until Monday but the Telstra CEO at the time, had recently had a phone meeting with the section where hubby worked & he gave them his phone number with instructions to call him if they ever had problems. Our phone service was restored before husband returned from the phone box. (Era before mobiles). the threat of a call to him was enough! Now Ted hasn’t worked for Telstra since 1999 & we no longer have a landline.
 
Nothing quite like having a land line is there?????
Indeed, it was even more reliable in the days of copper wire and telegraph poles when run by the post and telecommunicatiions service (Post Office). Ah, the delights of the NBN..........service in a while.
 

Join the conversation

News, deals, games, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.

Seniors Discount Club

The SDC searches for the best deals, discounts, and bargains for Aussies over 60. From everyday expenses like groceries and eating out, to electronics, fashion and travel, the club is all about helping you make your money go further.
  1. New members
  2. Jokes & fun
  3. Photography
  4. Nostalgia / Yesterday's Australia
  5. Food and Lifestyle
  6. Money Saving Hacks
  7. Offtopic / Everything else
  • We believe that retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy life, not worry about money. That's why we're here to help our members make the most of their retirement years. If you're over 60 and looking for ways to save money, connect with others, and have a laugh, we’d love to have you aboard.
  • Advertise with us

User Menu

Enjoyed Reading our Story?

  • Share this forum to your loved ones.
Change Weather Postcode×
Change Petrol Postcode×