OPTUS BOOSTS NETWORK COVERAGE ON LOWER MID NORTH COAST

Optus today announced a further enhancement to its network coverage in NSW with the installation of new mobile facilities at Tuncurry and Wingham, on the lower Mid North Coast of NSW. The facilities will provide Optus GSM network coverage to the townships of Tuncurry and Wingham and the surrounding areas. In particular, the new sites will enhance the level of in-building coverage to allow Optus customers to make and receive calls on their mobile phones when indoors. They also provide additional capacity to service the influx of visitors to the popular holiday destinations. Allen Lew, Managing Director Optus Mobile said, “The NSW lower Mid North Coast has benefited from Optus’ $5 million upgrade to network coverage along the Pacific Highway with plans to enhance coverage to Burdekin’s Gap as well as extend coverage to the coastal towns of Harrington, Old Bar, and Hallidays Point. “Not only is Optus upgrading its highway coverage, it is making it easier for customers to make mobile phone calls from more locations anywhere, anytime. Already recent upgrades and new sites have improved network performance levels along the Pacific Highway on some sites by up to 50 percent,” he said. Joel Wrigley, Network Communications, Tuncurry said, “With new mobile facilities in the last year at Tuncurry, Wingham, Vincents Lookout, Elizabeth Beach, Bungwahl, Rainbow Flat and Bulahdelah combined with Optus’ recent upgrade to Middle Brother, residents and businesses in the lower Mid North Coast have seen a dramatic improvement to their network coverage and performance. They now have a real choice in mobile networks and providers.” Optus has invested more than $536 million to roll out 1,534 mobile base stations across New South Wales, providing network coverage to 97 percent of the state’s population. The coverage expansion is part of the Optus strategy to provide the largest GSM network on the east coast of Australia. For further information on Optus visit: www.optus.com.au Media contact: Claire Hosegood, Corporate Affairs Optus - Phone: +61 2 9342 5042