Optus is putting special arrangements in place to look after the interests of customers who want to bar access to premium SMS from their mobile phone.

Optus is currently non-compliant with regulatory obligations made by the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) in the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2010 (No.1) (Barring Determination), which commenced on 1 July 2010. The Barring Determination requires a barring service for premium SMS to be offered.

Optus' barring solution is scheduled for launch in early October 2010.

Optus regrets any inconvenience caused by the late delivery of the barring service, which has been caused by unavoidable delays in building the capability.

Optus advised the ACMA of the expected late delivery, and has provided an enforceable undertaking to the ACMA in relation to its non-compliance with the Barring Determination.

The enforceable undertaking commits Optus to delivering the barring solution by 11 October 2010 and to arrangements to ensure that customers are not disadvantaged by the late delivery. Optus customers can get further information by visiting www.optus.com.au/psms and can register for barring by calling Optus.

Optus' barring solution, once implemented, will give control to customers by providing them with 24/7 access to an account management tool that will enable them to bar access to premium SMS or to select a monthly spend limit which suits their budget and pattern of use.

Optus is making the same barring service available to other mobile carriage service providers who resell services from the Optus mobile network.

Media contacts:
Liz Greene/Joshua Drayton
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850