The 17th of January 2017 or 17-1-17 is the first major outage to make news for Vodafone in 2017, and as you’d expect, its customers weren’t happy.
Outages. They’re a fact of life, and while they’re not "the little death" that the French have as a name for something completely different, they can turn your smartphone into a disconnected rectangle of glowing glass.
Unfortunately, outages happen, and if you’re ever experienced one — which you probably have if you’ve been alive any time over the past few decades — they suck.
Phone calls aren’t possible. Text messages linger in the aether between being sent and being delivered, if they actually managed to make it off your phone. What was once a flood of data turns into a data drought that would make drought fear monger Tim Flannery proud.
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Thankfully, such outages are usually temporary, it’s rare for national outages to go on for days, let alone hours and hours, even if such things have happened before.
Sadly for Vodafone and its customers, an early morning outage affected its 3G and 4G networks, with Disqus comments (reprinted below) via the AussieOutages.com page suggesting an outage of over two hours.
We reached out to Vodafone and a spokesperson issued us the following statement:
“Earlier today, some customers experienced an intermittent disruption to voice services.
“The disruption, which was caused by an error during planned work on the network, commenced at 5.30am and was resolved by 8.10am.
“We're very sorry for the disruption and apologise to affected customers for the inconvenience.”
If you are experiencing an outage on the Vodafone network, there is a "Network troubleshooting guide", which has a link to "Scheduled network maintenance and upgrades".
At this page you can select your brand and model of smartphone from a list and also type in your suburb and post code, after which you’ll see a list of "unexpected maintenance" issues as well as "planned upgrades and maintenance" issues, too.
If you’re still experiencing issues in your area, it’s worth checking out the link above, and seeing if your suburb has anything still listed, or not.
Here are some of the Disqus comments on the Vodafone outage over at AussieOutages.com, with time stamps as at time of publication.
Sheridan • an hour ago
I've had issues with reception all weekend, in Geelong. I keep trying call Vodafone but it cuts out due to reception, I've been on the roaming signal for 3 days. Will not load Internet pages, apps, hard to send msgs or make calls.
judd • an hour ago
I can't get text messages and if i do they come hours later. People can't call me and get through to me. Vodafone when my contract finishes im out finished. This outage crap followed by terrible data and reception you guys have pretty much lost me.
Bnaik • 2 hours ago
At 7:15am called wife on Vodafone number and couldn't connect her. Later on found out It was due to Vodafone network outage. Not happy.
Tej • 4 hours ago
Can't make or receive calls. Totally pissed off. Vodafone support has Long waiting queue.
Shane • 4 hours ago
Service is back up.
Steph • 4 hours ago
In Campbelltown can't call husband but can call others on Vodafone and other networks! Data is fine.
Richie • 4 hours ago
Urgent buisness calls cant be made or recieved. No one attending help calls.
Phil Sampson • 4 hours ago
I wonder when Vodafone will make a statement about what's going on.
Andrea • 4 hours ago
Same in Canberra. Can't make or recieved any calls but can send messages. Husband is not happy as he uses his phone for his business.
JJ Wang • 4 hours ago
In Metro melbourne. Can't call, callers don't go to voicemail either.
Rosanna • 4 hours ago
I'm pregnant and I'm 2 weeks off my due date and I cannot make calls or receive them. I have no other phone at home! Urgent Issue!
Mark • 4 hours ago
Same issues in Canberra. SMS fine can call non Vodaphone only.
J • 4 hours ago
In city – can't receive calls or make calls to other Vodafone numbers. SMS is fine as well as Internet.
Jim • 4 hours ago
Cant make calls to anyone other than vodafone sometimes.. data is fine though..
Andrew • 5 hours ago
I have been out since 530. Driven from Revesby to Pymble still nothing.
Julian • 5 hours ago
Im at botany and cannot make or receive calls volte
Carl Davidson • 5 hours ago
I can't make any calls either.
Data is fine.
Can't even call my mum for her birthday today.
I'm in Melbourne.
Elvio • 5 hours ago
I can't make calls or receive calls either, not sure what is going on...
Adriana • 5 hours ago
I can't make or receive calls, I'm in Ryde, anyone know what is happening?
Ian • 10 hours ago
Update: January 17th 2017 - Hills District NSW
I thought 6 hours was bad...that was 6 days ago. What kind of maintainence takes a consequetive week of downtime to complete?
All Vodafone customers should be comped their plan this month.
Joey • 4 days ago
Vodafone service reception is getting worse day by day. Service keeps dropping out wherever you are. Indoor, outdoor same things. No more 4G for me almost 11 days. Calls keep getting cut off in the middle, cant make or receive calls/messages, cant browse Internet. It's getting really really poor with VODAFONE!!!
