3G Network Close to Launch in Australia

Hutchison Australia says that it is nearing the commercial launch of its 3G network. Chief Executive Kevin Russell says it was a credit to the dedicated work of the 3 team in Australia and global development teams operating in three continents that 3 services were close to launch well ahead of competitors.

Hutchison Australia's 3 team was on course, within budget and continuing to track closely behind its sister organisations in Italy and the UK, he said.

"Our plan remains to fast follow the launches in these markets. Service trials are well underway in the UK and Italy and we will start our own here by the end of February," he said.

A campaign to recruit up to 600 staff for 3 retail stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane was under way, as part of a well-developed product distribution plan, Mr Russell said. Other details of the go-to-market strategy, including services and pricing, would be revealed close to launch, he said.

In the 3 business, key initiatives in 2002 included the acquisition of network assets from Lucent, the completion of network construction for launch in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and a seven-year agreement with Ericsson Australia for the implementation of a network and IT managed services unit. In readiness for launch of services, 3 is currently in advanced stages of the technical integration, stabilisation and end-to-end testing of the network, platforms, operating systems and devices."

Posted to the site on 20th February 2003