REGIONAL WA TO ACCESS FASTEST GROWING DIAL-UP

OptusNet now has Western Australia covered, which means customers from Broome to Geraldton can access Optus' dial-up internet service.

By expanding its Points of Presence (PoPs), Optus has increased its coverage to include remote regions in Western Australia. By dialling an 0198 prefix customers can gain access to OptusNet's service for the cost of a local call.*

According to Martin Dalgleish Managing Director Optus Consumer and Multimedia, OptusNet dial-up is consistently fast, reliable and stable.

"Western Australia has shown an almost 25 per cent increase in internet subscribers over a one-year period. The high growth rate and our network reliability suggests many regional users will take advantage of OptusNet's increased coverage," Mr Dalgleish said.

Over 34,000 Western Australians already connected to OptusNet have been enjoying uninterrupted email services recently despite the deluge of SPAM that flooded the networks of many Australian ISPs.

As Australia's fastest growing dial-up ISP, customers using OptusNet will receive a reliable and stable product, cost savings by bundling OptusNet and telephony and access to metropolitan and regional news feeds across Australia.

"Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that during the March quarter Western Australians downloaded a substantial 303 million megabytes - they are internet savvy and interested in sourcing quality content.

"OptusNet customers in regional Western Australia will benefit from our new content deal with the ABC. By sourcing ABC news from 49 regional centres across Australia, Western Australians can access daily content feeds coming from bureaux in Kalgoorlie, Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton and North-Western Australia. In the new year, customers will be able to personalise their home page to show news from their region," Mr Dalgleish said.

OptusNet recently introduced a new dial-up plan offering unlimited hours and an unlimited monthly MB download limit. The plan is called Choices NetAllHours Unlimited.

Optus' Internet consistently rates the highest customer satisfaction level out of Australia's top five ISPs. To connect to OptusNet Dial-up call 1800 501 064 or.

*Optus Local Telephony customers will be charged the cost of a local call. Customers with other local call providers should check the cost of these calls with their local call provider.

For more information:
Melissa Favero / Sarah Blakers
Optus Corporate Affairs
Phone: 02 9342 5030 / 02 9342 7363