CABLE & WIRELESS OPTUS WINS SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT MOBILE CONTRACT

Cable & Wireless Optus has won a contract valued at up to $18 million over three-and-a-half years to supply and manage all of the South Australian Government's mobile telephone services.

The 'whole-of-Government' mobile contract win will cover an initial 18 month period followed by two optional one-year extensions. Cable & Wireless Optus won the contract in a competitive tender.

Chris Anderson, Chief Executive, Cable & Wireless Optus said the contract illustrated the company's commitment to providing integrated communication solutions for customers and builds on contract wins with the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australian Governments.

"The South Australian Government will enjoy the benefits of improved mobile phone management services as well as reduced call and value-added services costs."

"The Government is now ideally positioned to take advantage of the latest mobile phone technology. Already, we are leading with mobile data services such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and we plan to enhance our network with high-speed General Packet Radio Service later this year," Mr Anderson said.

Under the terms of the contract, awarded by the South Australian Government, Cable & Wireless Optus will manage the Government's mobile phone 'fleet' which is estimated to be 12,000 mobiles.

Cable & Wireless Optus will be the supplier of mobile fleet management services to over 160 South Australian Government agencies and will oversee the Government's mobile inventory, providing web-based billing and reporting services as well as managing the mobile services provided by other carriers.

The contract includes a commitment by Cable & Wireless Optus to accelerate the rollout of its GSM (Global System for Mobile) mobile telephone infrastructure, to add another 50 base stations to the 133 already in operation in South Australia.

Cable & Wireless Optus will make a significant investment in South Australia and to provide improved mobile coverage in the metropolitan area and significantly increased coverage in regional and rural South Australia. This is an important economic development initiative for the State.

Commissioning of the new sites is expected to be completed in early 2001.

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