Optus today announced expansion plans for its digital mobile network in north western New South Wales (NSW), and officially launched its new mobile facility in Bellata.

Allen Lew, Managing Director of Optus Mobile, said the region had benefited from Optus' investment in expanding its global system for mobile (GSM) network in regional towns and along important highways.

"Our $330m investment over the past two years has brought competition in GSM mobile services to many regional and rural areas of Australia for the first time.

"In NSW, we have extended and enhanced coverage along more than 1,000 kilometres of highway, and built more than 230 mobile base stations. This includes more than 13,000 square kilometres of new mobile coverage across north western NSW.

"Today we launched our new mobile site in Bellata and - as part of our goal to build the largest GSM mobile network in NSW - announced plans for another ten base stations in the region.

"Once completed, this additional investment will extend Optus' coverage - and competition in GSM mobile services - across more than 38,000 square kilometres in north western NSW.

"Optus is determined that the benefits of competition in telecommunications - such as more choice, better customer service, and improved prices - are made available to rural and regional Australia, just as they are in metropolitan areas," Mr Lew said.

By the end of next year, Optus will install ten more base stations in Coonabarabran North, Coonabarabran South, Gilgandra North, Goondiwindi South, Gunnedah Showground, Werris Creek, and along the Newell Highway at Moree Plains, Narrabri South, The Pilliga Scrub, and Needle Mountain.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Gwydir, John Anderson, said this welcome expansion would give people in north western NSW better access to mobile phone services and more choice, further reducing the telecommunications divide between city and country areas.

"It is an example of how the Coalition Government's policies of fostering increased competition in telecommunications means better services on the ground. It also demonstrates that the Government does not have to own a phone company to get better services," Mr Anderson said.

Optus' GSM mobile network provides coverage to more than 95 percent of the Australian population.

For further information on Optus visit: www.optus.com.au

For more information:
Cathy Knezevic
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 9342 5302