Swoop and Quad9 Join Forces to Deliver Free, Privacy-First Cyber Protection for Australians

Australian telco Swoop has teamed up with Swiss-based cybersecurity nonprofit Quad9 to deliver free, enterprise-grade DNS protection nationwide, ensuring Australians regain access to fast, reliable security against online threats.

The agreement re-establishes local DNS routing for Quad9 in Australia after several major ISPs stopped directing traffic to its domestic servers earlier this year, a shift that forced Australian queries offshore to Hong Kong, Singapore and Los Angeles, resulting in slower response times and reduced reliability.

By hosting Quad9’s infrastructure across five major metropolitan hubs at no cost, Swoop has enabled the immediate return of fast, resilient DNS resolution for Australian users. Quad9’s threat-blocking service filters access to domains known to be associated with malicious activity, offering built-in protection without the need for software downloads, sign-ups or subscription fees.

Quad9, headquartered in Switzerland and governed under strict privacy laws, provides security services to more than 100 million users globally, including universities, libraries, government bodies, emergency services and ISPs.

“Quad9 exists to make the internet safer for everyone,” said Zachary Gilman, Network and Interconnection Manager at Quad9. “We operate as a neutral, nonprofit service with less than ten full-time staff supporting over 100 million users worldwide. Partnerships like this one ensure that Australians can continue to access free, privacy-first protection at the performance levels they expect.”

Restoring Critical DNS Security on Australian Soil

Earlier this year, major Australian ISPs stopped routing traffic to Quad9’s local servers, forcing Australian users to connect via Hong Kong, Singapore and Los Angeles. The increased distance created performance and reliability issues for people relying on Quad9 for protection against malicious domains.

Recognising the impact on end-user security and network performance, Swoop stepped in to host Quad9’s infrastructure across five major Australian metropolitan hubs – at no cost to Quad9. This has brought critical DNS security infrastructure back onshore, improving speed, resiliency and reliability for Australian users.

“Swoop saw an opportunity to support Australians who rely on secure, high-performance connectivity,” said Alex West, CEO of Swoop. “By hosting Quad9’s services for free across our network, we’ve helped restore fast, resilient access to essential security infrastructure that protects millions of people every day.

“This partnership sits right at the intersection of what Swoop cares about: robust infrastructure, customer-first connectivity and a safer online experience for everyone.”

Gilman added: “Swoop has made a huge contribution to Australia’s internet ecosystem. They recognised that this was core security infrastructure, acted quickly, and used their network to make sure our services remained available and performant nationwide. It’s exactly the kind of collaboration the internet was designed for critical services supported by organisations that care about community, not profit.”

John Todd, Quad9 CTO said: “We are thrilled to be bringing faster access for our services to our dedicated and technology-savvy user community in Australia. This partnership with Swoop ticks all the boxes – geographic diversity, great connectivity, and a common shared goal of security and privacy for end users.”

Because Quad9 is headquartered in Switzerland, its services are also backed by some of the world’s strongest privacy laws, ensuring that threat blocking does not come at the expense of user privacy or data exploitation.

A Safer Internet, Free for Every Australian

Quad9’s DNS security is openly recommended by the ACSC to Australians who have been targeted by phishing and online scams, and demand for simple, effective protection continues to grow as cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated.

With Swoop’s support:

• Australians can access world-class DNS security at no cost
• There is no software to install or manage – users simply configure their devices or networks to use Quad9 by setting their DNS resolvers to 9.9.9.9 / 149.112.112.112
• Threat protection is delivered in real time, blocking known malicious domains before they can cause harm
• Services are delivered under Swiss privacy protections, ensuring a privacy-first approach to security

“Between Swoop’s engineering capabilities and Quad9’s nonprofit security mission, this partnership is a genuine win for Australian internet users,” West said. “It’s a powerful reminder that connectivity isn’t just about speed – it’s about safety, trust and doing the right thing for the wider community.”

About Swoop:
Swoop is a national provider of data, mobile and voice services to channel, business and residential customers with a focus on its own fibre and fixed wireless infrastructure. The Swoop network is designed and scaled to deliver ultra-reliable, high throughput, flexible telecom network services. Swoop is established and has the goal to build its business to become Australia’s best challenger internet and telecommunications provider.

Committed to exceptional service and competitive pricing, Swoop also offers voice services and tailored solutions. With a strategic focus on growth through acquisitions and network expansion, Swoop aims to become Australia’s premier challenger in the telecom space. Since listing in 2021, Swoop has acquired nine companies including Moose Mobile, Speedweb, Countrytell, Voicehub, Luminet, iFibre, Beam Internet and Community Communications and continues to gain recognition, recently named as a Digital Transformation Leader by AFR and a finalist in the 2023 Australian Growth Company Awards.

About Quad9:
Quad9 is a global nonprofit DNS security service that protects users from phishing, malware, botnets and other malicious domains by blocking threats at the DNS layer. Based in Switzerland and operating under strict privacy laws, Quad9 serves more than 100 million users worldwide, including public institutions, enterprises, ISPs and individuals seeking free, privacy-first cyber protection.