Telstra’s failure to update its contingency handling procedures led to it to breach the rules for handling Triple Zero emergency calls 473 times, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has ruled in handing down a $3 million fine to the “open and apologetic” telco.

An investigation found the telecommunications company made 473 breaches during a disruption in March, with Telstra's Triple Zero call centre failing to properly transfer calls to emergency services.

At least 127 calls were unable to be transferred, including a call from the family of a Melbourne man who suffered a cardiac arrest on March 1.

Telstra has been fined $3m for a triple-0 outage earlier this year which led to 127 calls not being transferred to emergency services.

Telstra has been fined $3 million for a Triple Zero outage earlier this year that led to 127 calls not being transferred to emergency services. The incident, on March 1, was previously attributed to a confluence of factors, including a database failure and a software bug.

Telstra paid a AUD3 million fine and took steps to rectify its processes following a technical disruption at its emergency call centre.

Telstra has paid the fine, as confirmed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which said the fine was handed to the telco for a failure to comply with emergency call rules during a technical disruption at its Triple Zero emergency call center.