An Optus spokesperson said:

• Optus continues to work closely with the relevant authorities to restore mobile services as quickly as possible to the affected areas of Kinglake, Gippsland and Marysville to Alexandra
• As at Thursday 12 February 2009, eight Optus mobile base stations remain out of service in the bushfire affected areas of Victoria. A total of 52 sites have been affected and all but eight mobile base stations have been restored
• We are aiming by the end of today to have coverage restored to all of our mobile sites from Marysville through to Yarck, including Taggerty, Buxton and Mt Gordon. Mobile infrastructure in these areas has been damaged and in some cases severe damage has occurred
• We are working to restore Wandong and Flowerdale via satellite link by Friday evening (13 February), provided we can maintain access
• Wherever possible at sites where service is disrupted we have deployed more mobile base stations and refuelled generators to continue service until technicians are able to restore a permanent service
• The following sites have been restored on generators until mains power is available – Kinglake, Mt St Leonard, Glenburn Mt Caroline, Clonbinane, Mt Tassie and Kilmore
• Today, in the Mt Gordon and Marysville area we are working with Victorian Ambulance Service to restore some critical Ambulance communication links
• Addition capacity has been added at Whittlesea, Kinglake and Yan Yean to boost mobile services in the main staging post for the recovery efforts
• Optus is currently investigating deploying an interim satellite solution in the next 24 – 48 hours to further aid mobile service restoration in the Glendale, Flowerdale, Buxton, Taggerty and Yarck areas. Mobile infrastructure in these areas has either been damaged or is not able to be accessed due to ongoing fire activity
• Yesterday afternoon Optus added five additional transceivers to the Whittlesea base station, servicing the Kinglake area and doubling the capacity in the main staging post for the recovery effort
• A further eight transceivers have been added to the adjacent site at Yan Yean to further boost capacity
• Optus continues to assist our customers on the ground with access to prepaid mobile phones, a generator to assist charging mobile phones and a supply of different brand mobile phone chargers to give away
• Optus staff, to assist our customers, are on the ground at the following locations:
  o Whittlesea Community Centre
  o Yes Optus Traralgon and Traralgon Relief Centre
  o Sound on Wheels premium dealer in Morwell
  o Yarra Glen Relief Centre – Healesville Memorial Centre
  o Diamond Creek Relief Centre
• To assist our customers who have lost property as a result of the bushfires, we will be "zerobilling" all their services for up to three months effective immediately
• Additionally, we will be offering free Mobile Prepaid handsets with $1000 value to Optus customers who have had either their Fixed or Mobile service disrupted
• Customers should call 1300 300 937 for further assistance.

Media contact:
Simone Bergholcs
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850