OPTUSNET BROADBAND SURPASSES 350,000 SUBSCRIBERS WITH RECORD QUARTER RESULT

Optus today announced it has surged past 350,000 broadband subscribers, adding a record 63,000 subscribers in the last quarter and 206,000 subscribers for the year. After four consecutive quarters of incremental growth, Optus’ net subscribers increased by 270 per cent in the last quarter compared to the same quarter in 2004. “This has been the most outstanding quarter of growth for OptusNet broadband and its success stems from the increasing strength of the company’s bundling strategy which now sees more than 95 per cent of OptusNet DSL customers taking up multiple Optus products,” Allen Lew, Managing Director, Optus Consumer said. Optus triggered a turning point in the broadband industry when it entered the DSL market in early 2004. The competitive price points introduced then have seen Optus’ broadband subscriber numbers more than double in the last twelve months. “With such impressive year on year growth, Optus will continue to capture market share from competitors through simple yet differentiated plans that provide clear savings and value to customers. Our strategy is clearly working and we expect this momentum to continue through 2005,” Mr Lew said. “With the trend across our industry for consumer fixed line voice revenue to be flat to declining, broadband revenue is key to the future of integrated telcos like Optus,” he said. Optus has launched an aggressive broadband advertising campaign this week. The company will announce its fourth quarter results as at March 31, 2005 this Thursday. For more information: Sheila Dhillon/Sarah Turner - Optus Corporate Affairs - Phone: +61 2 9342 9021/9342 8432