Optus to Expand GSM Coverage

Australia's Optus has announced that it was significantly expanding mobile coverage across the state of Victoria - spending more than US$53.5 million in installing 220 new mobile phone base stations by 2004. In a demonstration of Optus' increased commitment to both regional and metropolitan Victoria, over 58 per cent of the investment will go to regional areas. This will bring the total number of Optus base stations in the State to well over 1,000 next year.

Mr Parcell said Victoria was important to Optus' business strategy and that additional network investment opportunities within the State would be explored.

"Optus is in a prime position to deliver competition and be an alternative to the incumbent. This competition brings great advantage to the businesses and people of Victoria. "With legacy infrastructure almost exhausted, Victoria will reap the benefits of implementing new technologies from Optus, rather than simply relying on the incumbent."

"We plan to increase our market share to 20 per cent over the next three years and we are well on the way to doing that. We have had some major Victorian wins recently in the corporate and Government sectors including Vic Roads, DaimlerChrysler and Medibank Private," he said.

Optus has over 2,000 staff in Victoria and plans to inject more jobs over the coming years. Optus is a subsidiary of Singapore Telecom."

Posted to the site on 26th March 2003