Opticomm customers across Australia are facing significant disruptions with the loss of free-to-air (FTA) television and ongoing internet outages. Tens of thousands, mainly in new greenfield suburbs, have reported these issues, highlighting growing concerns about the privately owned fibre-optic network operated by Opticomm.
In areas such as Bellamack, near Darwin, residents were initially promised smart community infrastructure. Leah Wray, a local resident, expressed her frustration after receiving a letter informing her that FTA TV would no longer be supported on Opticomm’s network. She said, “We bought into this suburb knowing we would have access to free-to-air television and then suddenly it’s gone.”
Opticomm’s letter, sent in September, affected roughly 10 percent of its customers nationwide. It advised them to switch to streaming services or install a personal antenna at their own expense. Installing antennas, however, is costly and not practical for everyone. In multi-storey retirement villages like those in Yeronga, Brisbane, the cost to re-cable buildings for antenna installation could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mike Thomas, a resident, described the situation as “very poor” and noted many were “left in the lurch.”
Opticomm explained the free-to-air TV equipment is “reaching end-of-life” and “interfering” with network upgrades. The company plans to extend FTA TV availability in the Northern Territory only until mid-July next year but provided no clear solution for customers already cut off or those elsewhere.
Alongside TV service issues, customers report persistent internet problems. Complaints include frequent outages sometimes lasting days or even weeks. Opticomm claims it is investing in infrastructure to improve network resilience in the NT but has not confirmed similar steps in other states.
Industry experts highlight that regulation gaps are exacerbating the problem. Associate Professor Mark Gregory from RMIT University pointed out that statutory infrastructure providers like Opticomm are not currently bound by enforceable performance standards. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s recent report calls for the federal government to introduce mandatory service quality standards for these providers.
Telecommunications Ombudsman Cynthia Gebert emphasized that statutory infrastructure providers must be held to clear service obligations, just as internet service providers are. Consumers currently lack reliable protections against outages and service degradation stemming from network operators like Opticomm.
This situation reveals increasing challenges for residents relying on private fibre networks for essential digital services. With limited regulatory oversight and costly alternatives, many Opticomm customers face uncertainty about their internet and television access moving forward.
Read more at: www.abc.net.au
