Aussie Broadband Limited has been issued a fine of $213,000 for endangering the safety of over 30,000 customers.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that between November 2021 and May 2022, the Aussie telco failed to provide emergency services with the details of over 30,000 users, meaning that they could not be contacted by triple-0, or receive emergency alerts.

Public safety rules require Aussie Broadband and telcos to upload customer information to secure databases for use by emergency services and law enforcement, for warnings of floods and bushfires as well as police investigations.

“While we are not aware anyone was harmed due to the breaches, it’s alarming that Aussie Broadband did not have effective processes in place to identify that its customer information was not being provided,” said Nerida O’Loughlin, chair of the ACMA.

O’Loughlin added that Aussie Broadband quickly paid the fine and made amendments to its processes to prevent the issue repeating in the future. Further breaches could cost the company $250,000 per individual violation.

“While we are not aware anyone was harmed due to the breaches, it’s alarming that Aussie Broadband did not have effective processes in place to identify that its customer information was not being provided.”