Ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia - Extension

CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVICE FROM OPTUS

Extreme Weather events impact service in parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts of Queensland.

As previously notified by Optus on Monday 2 March 2015, Optus’s normal operations in parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Southeast Coast districts of Queensland were affected by a series of extreme weather events on or about Thursday 19 February 2015 through to Sunday 22 February 2015. The telecommunications network in these areas has experienced high levels of damage that resulted in delays to installation and repair activities on a significant number of Optus services.

Due to the extent of damage to the Optus network, the impact in the affected region has been greater than initially estimated, and as a consequence of the continued weather effects, the expected recovery date has now been extended to 26 April 2015.

Optus has identified that the effect of these circumstances applies to an additional 1,200 services bringing the total number of services impacted to approximately 2,730 services. This number may increase as Optus assesses the full effect of the extreme weather conditions. Based on current information, the resumption date of normal service operations is expected to be 26 April 2015. This date is indicative only; Optus customers should anticipate that some further delays may occur.

Optus regrets any inconvenience caused to customers and thanks them for their patience while this work is being undertaken.

Optus services encompassed in this exemption are in the area bounded by and including, but is not limited to, the area starting at Woodgate following the coastline south past Hervey Bay, Noosa Heads and Caloundra to Beachmere. The area then heads southwest to Mount Glorious then west to Ravensbourne. From Ravensbourne the area then turns northwest past Evergreen to Darr Creek and then north to Monogorilby. The area heads northeast past Brooweena and back to Woodgate. All suburbs and towns, off shore islands and coastal areas serviced by Optus within these boundaries are encompassed in this exemption.

Services in the area mentioned above with phone numbers in the following number ranges may have been affected:

As these circumstances were outside of Optus’s control, Optus is claiming an extension to time frames applying under the Telecommunications (Customer Service Guarantee) Standard 2011. This means that Optus is notifying customers that normal service time frames may not be met during the period of 23 February 2015 to 26 April 2015 inclusive (based on Optus’s estimated recovery schedule correct at the time of publication of this notice).

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for a CSG payment under this notice, or wish to have us reconsider whether the circumstances were a proper basis for claiming an exemption, you can contact Optus on 13 39 37 - quoting CSG exemption reference number 23022015-QLD-E-C-P-EX-TROPICAL CYCLONE MARCIA_RUL_EXT You can also view a copy of this notice on our Internet site www.optus.com.au/msd If, after calling Optus on the above number, you remain unsatisfied with our response to your query, you have the option of raising the matter with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO). Information on the TIO and contact details are available on the Internet (www.tio.com.au) and in the White Pages®telephone directory.