Optus has reaffirmed the benefits of its $20 million investment in regional infrastructure throughout the Federal Electorates of Indi, Riverina and Farrer.

At the Communication Forums in Wagga Wagga and Albury today, Optus will reveal its future plans to spend an additional $5.5 million across the region over the next 18 months.

The Forums are being hosted by local Federal MPs, Kay Hull, Susan Ley and Sophie Panopoulos and attendees will include Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the Hon Senator Helen Coonan.

Optus has demonstrated ongoing commitment to the provision of competitive GSM mobile coverage in the Riverina and Farrer Federal electorates. It has built 12 new mobile base stations in two years with a further eight sites planned.

In the Federal electorate of Indi, Optus has installed 11 new sites in two years including sites at Chiltern and Wangaratta East with an additional six sites planned over the next 18 months.

Paul Fletcher, Director of Optus Corporate and Regulatory Affairs says Optus is focused on providing competitive telecommunications infrastructure in regional Australia.

"Our mobile GSM network expansion is worth nearly $1 billion in NSW and Victoria. In the past two years we have increased our regional and rural mobile coverage by more than 200,000 square kilometres across Australia," Mr Fletcher said.

"Over the next 18 months we will invest a further $5.5 million to expand our mobile coverage across the Federal electorates of Indi, Riverina and Farrer.

Mr Fletcher said broadband services were also a priority for Optus.

"Optus is focused on providing competitive broadband services to regional and rural Australians.

"We deliver broadband via DSL to many towns including Hay, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Deniliquin and Tumut.

"Australians living in regional areas can take advantage of Optus satellite broadband at prices comparable to metropolitan customers via the Government's Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS)," Mr Fletcher said.

Optus will continue to provide choice and a competitive advantage to South West NSW and North East VIC as it offers new technologies and better coverage via its networks.

For detailed information on Optus' current and future mobile sites along with information about broadband coverage see the charts below.

For more information:
Sarah Blakers
Optus Corporate Affairs
Phone: +61 2 9342 7363

Optus current mobile coverage statistics and sites

• Optus mobile covers 97 per cent of the population of New South Wales.
• Optus mobile covers 99 per cent of the population of Victoria.
• Optus has expanded its regional and rural mobile network by over 200,000 square kilometres in the past two years.
• Optus will average one new site or upgrade per month over the next 18 months in the electorates of Riverina, Farrer and Indi.

Satellite broadband: All Australians are able to receive Optus satellite broadband. To check if you are eligible for the HiBIS incentive scheme go to www.optus.com.au