Securing a reliable communications network

The establishment of a National Telecom Resilience Centre (NTRC) to address Australia’s critical telecommunications resilience will include the nation’s first controlled emergency call test facility and will allow further research to develop reliable emergency communications. 

 A partnership between the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the Communications Alliance and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DICTRCA) created the facility in direct response to the findings of the 2023 Optus Outage Review. It also marks a transformative step towards ensuring robust and reliable telecommunications for Australia.

 At the core of the NTRC is the nation’s first multi-operator, multi-band, controlled test facility, a secure environment designed to replicate real-world telecommunications scenarios, including network failures, and technology evolutions to ensure reliable emergency communications as a system-of-systems. The controlled test facility enables independent testing of emergency call functionality across multiple operators and devices in a controlled large-scale RF-shielded chamber. All three operators will be able to place their equipment into the RF chamber for collaborative testing.

This initiative aims to help ensure that critical services like Triple Zero (000) remain operational during network outages, addressing gaps identified in the wake of the Optus outage, where more than 2,000 emergency calls failed to connect. Additionally, the facility will be used to further research into new technologies and evolutions and ensuring Australia can take advantage of the latest developments to ensure reliable emergency communications.

This initiative carries an important public benefit, ensuring that ordinary Australians – regardless of which phone or network they use – can have more trust in reliable emergency services when it matters most. From families in metropolitan areas to communities in remote regions, the NTRC’s work will strengthen our collective ability to stay connected and access help, reinforcing public confidence and enhancing national security in the process.

In addition to the controlled test facility, the NTRC will establish a globally leading research capability focusing on telecom network reliability and emergency services. Leveraging UTS’s renowned TechLab facilities, the centre will conduct biannual cross-network testing, develop cutting-edge protocols, and contribute to global telecommunications standards such as 3rd Generation Partnership Project, a global telecom standards organisation. This initiative solidifies Australia’s, and UTS’s position as an international leader in telecommunications resilience.

UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt said the initiative highlighted a critical step towards a resilient, secure, and innovative future for Australian telecommunications.

“The establishment of the NTRC is a testament to UTS’s commitment to societal impact and innovation. This centre will not only address the vulnerabilities exposed by the Optus outage but will also place Australia at the forefront of global efforts to enhance telecommunications resilience,” he said.

Head of the NTRC and the Telecom Research Unit at UTS Professor Ray Owen said the initiative was a national priority with global significance. “As the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the NTRC’s controlled test facility and the associated research provides a vital platform for collaboration between academia, industry, and government. Together, we are pioneering solutions and research that will safeguard emergency communications and national infrastructure.”

 The NTRC will work closely with major telecom operators, regulators, and international bodies to set benchmarks for emergency call reliability and network resilience. With the growing integration of 5G, Internet of Things (interconnected devices sharing data over networks), and satellite technologies, this centre will address pressing challenges while paving the way for future innovations.