Major corporate customers have chosen to move their mobile business to Optus following today's introduction of Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

HSBC and the TOWER Group were among the first corporate customers to take advantage of the new freedom of choice, moving their Australian mobile business to Optus. This follows the recent decision by IBM to award its mobile business to Optus.

A milestone in the telecommunications industry, MNP allows mobile customers to change carriers, taking their mobile numbers with them.

Chris Hancock, Managing Director of Optus Business, said the advent of MNP was a welcome boost for competition in the telecommunications industry.

"Business customers like HSBC and TOWER can now look for the mobile service that best meets their needs. Their mobile numbers no longer bind them to their existing carriers.

"For Optus, it is a huge opportunity to access a new corporate and Government customer base. Our challenge is to actively maintain and grow our current customer base, and to pursue new business. And Optus is ready to tackle this challenge head on," Mr Hancock said.

"Optus was born for competition and we thrive on it. MNP opens up a whole new world for all involved with mobile communications carriers and customers."

Mr Hancock said the company was pleased to welcome new corporate customers like HSBC and the TOWER Group, as well as retaining important corporate accounts like IBM.

"Under MNP, we believe many more customers will see the benefits of consolidating their mobile fleets and pursuing the economies of scale that come from dealing with one carrier.

"And as a full-service carrier, we are well-positioned to deliver whole-of-business communications to corporate and Government clients," Mr Hancock said.

To date, Optus has managed the mobile service for around half the HSBC mobile handsets, and the company will now consolidate its mobile fleet on the Optus network.

Earlier this year, the TOWER Group awarded its whole-of-business communications to Optus, including managed data, voice and mobile services. The company elected to wait for the advantages of MNP before transferring the mobile part of the business to Optus.

For more information:
Louise Ingram
Optus Public Affairs
Phone: 02 9342 5042