- Three told Ofcom of a temporary loss of service in Kent, Hampshire and London
- Investigation showed emergency calls had to pass through one data centre
- This meant that Three’s emergency call centre was vulnerable to one failure
- Three has 20 days to pay its £1,890,000 ($2,413,719) to Ofcom
Shivali Best For Mailonline
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British communications regulator, Ofcom, has fined mobile network provider Three £1,890,000 ($2,413,719), after uncovering a weakness in the mobile operator’s emergency call network.
An investigation found that Three broke an important rule designed to make sure everyone can contact the 999 services at all times.
Ofcom says that the fine should act as a ‘clear warning’ to the telecoms industry that all providers should put public health and safety first.
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An investigation found that Three broke an important rule designed to make sure everyone can contact the 999 services at all times. Pictured top is how Three’s vulnerable network was configured, while pictured bottom is how the network should be configured
WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THREE?
In October, Three notified Ofcom of a temporary loss of service that affected customers in Kent, Hampshire and parts of London.
Emergency calls from people in these areas had to pass through one data centre in order to reach the emergency services.
This meant that Three’s emergency call centre was vulnerable to a single point of failure.
Even back-up routes would have failed, as they were also directed through this one point.
Ofcom found that Three had failed to ensure uninterrupted access to the emergency services, resulting in the penalty.
In October, Three notified Ofcom of a temporary loss of service that affected customers in Kent, Hampshire and parts of London.
Ofcom’s investigation found that emergency calls from people in these areas had to pass through one data centre in order to reach the emergency services.
This meant that Three’s emergency call centre was vulnerable to a single point of failure.
And even back-up routes would have failed, as they were also directed through this one point.
Having investigated the case, Ofcom found that Three had failed to ensure uninterrupted access to the emergency services, resulting in the penalty.
This fine must be paid to Ofcom within 20 working days, and will be passed on to HM Treasury.
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As a result of this investigation, Ofcom expects all providers to make sure that their networks do not run through a single point, which could compromise emergency call traffic.
Gaucho Rasmussen, Ofcom’s Enforcement and Investigations Director, said: ‘Telephone access to the emergency services is extremely important, because failures can have serious consequences for people’s safety and wellbeing.
Gaucho Rasmussen, Ofcom’s Enforcement and Investigations Director, said: ‘Telephone access to the emergency services is extremely important, because failures can have serious consequences for people’s safety and wellbeing’ (stock image)
‘Today’s fine serves as a clear warning to the wider telecoms industry.
‘Providers must take all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency services.’
Three has responded to the fine, saying: ‘Providing our customers with uninterrupted access to emergency services is a requirement we take extremely seriously.’
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