OPTUS BOOSTS CAIRNS MOBILE RELIABILITY AND DATA SPEEDS

Plans for investment to further improve network coverage for Cairns

Cairns Optus customers downloading the latest apps or streaming video to their smartphone can enjoy a faster and more reliable experience thanks to several network enhancements that have been rolled out to the local area in the past year. These network enhancements have expanded 4G data coverage, increased data download speeds, improved mobile voice call quality and introduced WiFi calling for Optus customers across the Cairns area, with more plans to improve network coverage and reliability still to come. 4G in more places  Dennis Wong, Managing Director of Networks at Optus said, “Cairns is one of the hundreds of regional Australian towns enjoying the benefits of Optus’ superfast 4G Plus network, which now reaches close to 90 per cent of the Australian population.” “Our 4G roll out in the Cairns area using 700Mhz spectrum, which provides enhanced indoor data coverage, means Optus customers with compatible phones can enjoy superfast downloads, browsing and streaming both indoors and out and about. Some of the areas covered by the 4G Plus network include Trinity Beach, Whitfield and Kanimbla. It can also benefit Optus 3G customers as it helps free up network capacity as more people hop onto 4G,” Mr Wong said. Faster speeds, more reliability As well as better 4G coverage, Optus also recently upgraded 4G speeds in Cairns and selected areas with the latest LTE Advanced technologies. “With these latest upgrades, data hungry customers with the need for speed could enjoy even faster data downloads in selected Cairns suburbs. To benefit, customers will need to use a device featuring our ‘even faster speeds on 4G Plus’ badge,” Mr Wong said. Introducing 3G HD Voice and WiFi calling Optus mobile voice call quality has also improved with the introduction of 3G High Definition (HD) voice technology earlier this year, which provides sharper and clearer audio for Optus to Optus mobile calls using HD Voice compatible devices. “3G HD Voice improves the voice call experience by providing better sound quality and less background noise – it’s as if the person you’re talking to on the phone is in the same room as you,” Mr Wong said. In August, Optus also introduced the WiFi Talk app which allows Optus customers to make or receive calls or send and receive text messages on their smartphone via a WiFi connection in areas with limited mobile coverage. “As the first Australian telco to launch WiFi calling, Optus is providing customers with an innovative way to stay connected via a WiFi access point if mobile coverage is limited when indoors at home or in public places, such as shopping centres^1. The app uses your existing Optus mobile number, so people calling or texting you don’t need to have the app or do anything differently,” Mr Wong said. WiFi Talk is available to Optus prepaid and postpaid customers using a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone. What’s next for Cairns Additional new mobile sites are being planned by Optus, including at Bungalow, Cairns Airport, Palm Cove and Clifton Beach. Last financial year, Optus invested more than $1.5 billion in its mobile network, including acquiring new spectrum, expanding 4G coverage, boosting network capacity and turning on new towers. “These improvements are part of our commitment to Optus customers in Cairns and ensuring we bring more mobile choice and competition to regional Australia. Our substantial investment means even more customers will be able to benefit from faster mobile internet, more reliable coverage and improved voice call quality,” Mr Wong said.   Media contacts: Matt Sun Optus Corporate Affairs (02) 8082 7850   ¹ Subject to WiFi availability in the building/area and individual WiFi connection firewall settings. For further information about WiFi Talk, including WiFi connection data usage, visit optus.com.au/wifitalk or download the app from the Google Play or Apple App Store. Requires iPhone or Android handset with iOS version 6 and Android 4.0 and above.