Title: Telecom Outages: A Global Pattern Ignored?

Hey Pollos,

A discussion sparked in another community about the Optus outage in Australia during the last day, which left 10 million without service, has opened up a broader conversation on a subject I'm deeply interested in. We're not looking at just a single event; this incident is part of a global pattern of telecom outages that too often go unnoticed.

Recall the Rogers outage in Canada due to an Ericsson software upgrade in 2021, or the UK's O2 disruption in 2018, also linked to Ericsson. Now, after Optus's announcements about 5G wearables with Ericsson in August and major network upgrade plans in December, they've experienced a similar outage. Curious, isn't it?

The storylines surrounding these outages are missing a critical element: thorough analysis and follow-up. Why aren't journalists examining the recurring connection in these disruptions? Is the technical narrative too complex, or is it simply more convenient to replicate corporate statements? Obviously, echoing corporate PR is less challenging than dissecting intricate tech issues that confound the public.

This issue isn't merely about technological hiccups; it's an evident pattern of outages linked to significant upgrades. When companies claim ignorance about faults, it's suspect. Having worked in telecom for over a decade, I know that complete ignorance is rarely the case—someone always has some knowledge.

We must question who is protecting the end-users. The token compensations offered are insufficient. It's not just about a minor credit; it's about the respect and comprehension of the essential systems upon which our lives hinge.

As both a consumer and an industry professional, I'm advocating for greater accountability. Let's be unequivocal: I do not support 5G networks. I am, and always will be, a fiber optic kind of 'pollo'.

The way these outage stories are reported needs to be challenged to prevent us from being disadvantaged by our lack of technical knowledge. With outages impacting millions and stretching over hours, their significance cannot be overstated.

Such incidents expose the vulnerability of our networks and a troubling lack of transparency in resolving them. It's a call to action for tech journalists and consumers to seek better. We need to be informed, not subdued by corporate platitudes.

Who is pursuing these stories? Where is the accountability? As consumers, we have the right to more information. We must advocate for a shift in reporting these incidents to ensure we aren't exploited due to our technical naiveté.

What have your experiences been? Have you noticed an emerging pattern? It's time to highlight these issues and insist on the transparency we are owed.