Cable & Wireless Optus announced today it had chosen Adelaide for a new customer call centre - creating between 450 and 500 new jobs in South Australia. The new centre, to be located in North Terrace, together with the existing call centre in Adelaide's Technology Park, will see Cable & Wireless Optus employing more than 1,000 customer service agents in South Australia.

Deputy Chief Executive, Norman Gillespie, explained that Cable & Wireless Optus' business was growing so rapidly that the new call centre was required to maintain the company's commitment to excellence in customer service.

"We are experiencing enormous growth in all areas of our business. For example, Optus has the fastest growing mobile network in Australia, having increased its GSM subscriber base by 42 per cent in the September quarter to 2.2 million customers.

"When considering options for the location of the call centre we looked at issues such as attracting and retaining suitable staff, enthusiasm of the local community, reaction of local businesses and the willingness of the State Government to support the establishment of a call centre.

"Adelaide was a strong contender in each of these areas. Coupled with the fact that the existing Cable & Wireless Optus call centre at Technology Park has been a tremendous success, Adelaide was the logical choice," Mr Gillespie said. Research undertaken by Cable & Wireless Optus showed Adelaide had a low attrition rate for call centre staff, higher productivity and a higher response rate to recruitment advertisements.

"The additional jobs in Adelaide will benefit the local economy and is another demonstration of our ongoing support and investment in South Australia. The people of South Australia and the Government have been very supportive of Optus, and we believe the opening of this call centre will further strengthen the relationship," Mr Gillespie said.

For more information:
Stephen Woodhill
Phone: 02 9342 7850