OPTUS IMPROVES COVERAGE TO WAGGA WAGGA

Residents and visitors to Wagga Wagga will enjoy improved coverage as a result of the expansion of Optus' mobile network.

Local Optus World store manager Chris Horne said Optus is 'raising the bar' and is working towards significant coverage expansion in regional Australia.

The network expansion includes new mobile base stations at Albury, Chiltern, Finley, Jerilderie, Shepparton, Tocumwal, Wagga Wagga, Wangaratta East and surrounding areas.

"Wagga Wagga has a population of 57,000 - local businesses and residents will benefit from the improved coverage. With a city of this size and a major retail centre, quality mobile coverage is important," Mr Horne said.

In addition, Optus customers with car kits will have better coverage when heading west along the Sturt Highway towards Narrandera. With more new sites planned for Galore, Mt Misery and Whitton later this year.

Optus is growing its network at almost twice the rate that it did in the company's first few years of operation. On an average, Optus turns on one new base station every day and plans to continue to grow the network at that rate.

The network consists of around 3,500 base stations nationally with plans to build another 400 in the next 12 months with a focus on improving its rural and regional footprint, particularly in NSW and Victoria.

The network provides coverage to over 94 per cent of the Australian population and handles more than 96 million calls a week and more than 32 million SMS messages each week.

For more information about Optus products and services visit the local Optus World store at 164 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga or visit the Optus website: www.optus.com.au.

For more information:
Joni Gathercole
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 9342 8432