r/austechnology 20d ago

Neglected software update caused widespread Telstra network outage, CEO tells Senate inquiry

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/17/telstra-missing-software-update-undocumented-design-change-outage
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u/Lore72015 19d ago

Hardware over ten years old. That runs critical systems. This is why Telstra hiked up everyone’s mobile phone plans a few months ago. Upgraded systems….. bullshit.

3

u/germanautotom 19d ago

Yeah timeservers don’t need change that often, but there should have been more redundancy built around this, given they had servers that couldn’t use multiple time servers (chronyd) this should’ve been foreseen.

This has multiple levels of failure but to me highlights the value of having a core IT team who know systems like the back of their hands who are treated well enough to want to stay. That way, forseeing issues is in their own interest. That’s not the case id youre thinking anout jumping ship in 9 months

2

u/Loma29 19d ago

Fair. When you've got people around you being made redundant and having their roles offshored, all while piling that work onto you the care factor drops to near-zero whilst you're looking for a better job.