Optus today welcomed the opportunity to extend a new and exclusive offer to NSW schools to combat threats by Telstra to increase line rental charges.

Optus has developed 'Schools Connect' - a new mobile and fixed line solution that we will make available very rapidly to all schools that are within Optus' network footprint. This package can significantly reduce the amount schools are billed when making inter community calls.

Paul Fletcher, Director Corporate & Regulatory Affairs, said: "NSW schools located within our network footprint can register their mobile and fixed line with Optus and they will be able to make calls to other registered schools and the Department of Education & Training (DET) at very competitive rates."

Optus School Connect plans* include:

• Low-priced mobile calls between registered NSW schools and DET;
• Low-priced fixed line calls between registered NSW schools and DET;
• Low-priced calls from registered NSW schools to registered parents/guardians; and
• By using Optus' MyTime product, parents and guardians can have free calls to any school on the Optus network by nominating the school as one of their free call numbers.

Optus will shortly be writing to the NSW Department of Education & Training to formalise this offer.

"We are proud of being the challenger in the telecommunications industry and devising innovative plans to serve the needs of our customers," Mr Fletcher said.

"Telstra's latest bully tactics come as no surprise to us. Their threat of increased prices is yet another example of them intimidating customers in order to damage their competitors.

"When situations like this arise - we intend to take full advantage of them. We thank Telstra for creating this opportunity because if they continue to treat their customers this way - we expect there will be a lot of opportunities for us.

"Today Optus is standing up to the bully and standing up for a fair deal for schools," Mr Fletcher said.

Note to Editor:

*Optus' School Connect plans are for the NSW Department of Education & Training, schools and parents/guardians registered in a community program.

Media contact:
Luisa Ford
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 9342 5045