HUTCHISON IN SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CABLE & WIRELESS OPTUS

Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited and Cable & Wireless Optus have signed a Services Agreement covering the provision of interconnect services as well as transit services and other commercial products.

The agreement allows for traffic to transfer between the Optus fixed line and Hutchison networks as well as between Hutchison and other carriers' networks, via Optus.

"Through the Interconnect and long distance transit components of the agreement, Hutchison CDMA customers in Australia will be able to connect their calls to and from anywhere in the world," Hutchison Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Bailey said.

"This represents another significant milestone in the deployment of Hutchison's own wireless CDMA network, which is on track for commercial launch in the first half of 2000."

"Optus is pleased to announce the conclusion of this agreement with Hutchison, it demonstrates Optus' pro-competitive approach to agreeing access terms and the provision of a wide variety of services to other carriers," said Gerard Frack, Director of Industry Services, Cable & Wireless Optus.

Optus expects to conclude further Services Agreements with other Australian carriers in the near future.

For more information:
Stephen Woodhill
Cable & Wireless Optus
Phone: 02 9342 7850

Melina Reed
Hutchison Telecoms
Phone: 02 9964 4874