OPTUS SET TO BUILD 15 SITES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO IMPROVE COVERAGE IN BLACK SPOT AREAS

Optus working with State and Federal Government, Optus to continue investment in South Australia.

Optus has confirmed it will be working with the Federal and State Government to build 15 new mobile sites across South Australia, as part of the Federal Government’s $60 million second round of funding for its Mobile Black Spots Program.

From the program nationally, Optus has secured $26.4 million in Federal and State Government funding and will co-contribute a further $36.4 million to provide dedicated connectivity to thousands of Australians across 114 sites in regional and rural Australia. The program, which was co-funded by the South Australian Government, intends to drive greater competition and improve connectivity across regional and rural Australia.

In South Australia, allocated funding will be used by Optus to build six mobile base stations and nine satellite cells*.

David Epstein, Vice President, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs said, “Optus is pleased to be working with Federal and State Governments on the delivery of mobile services in regional and remote parts of Australia.  We thank all Governments for investing in such a crucial program which together with Optus’ ongoing mobile investment program, will ensure those living in remote and regional areas have access to reliable mobile coverage.”

“Real investment in regional and remote telecommunications services is the only sustainable way to improve competition, and strength and breadth of coverage in regional Australia. Optus has embarked on an extensive regional network investment program and today’s Mobile Black Spots announcement will supplement additional investment in regional telecommunications.”

“We have always placed significant value on network investment, particularly for regional areas seeking choice and competition. In the last financial year we invested close to $1.6 billion in strengthening networks. In South Australia, we’ve invested in 28 new sites and 304 site upgrades in the past 12 months, and are looking forward to continuing this investment through the Mobile Black Spots Program,” said Mr Epstein.

Using the funding, Optus will build new mobile base stations and satellite small cells in South Australia across:

For more information please contact:

Michelle Pacey/Steve Batten

Optus Corporate Affairs

P: (02) 8082 7850

E: media@optus.com.au

*Satellite cells, also known as ‘small cells’, are small units that provide the potential for an inexpensive and flexible alternative to traditional mobile towers. These small devices deliver mobile phone coverage up to a 3 kilometre radius [depending on the surrounding topography] and are linked to satellites to expand coverage in a concentrated local area such as a rural, remote or previously unserviced location.