Optus CEO Allen Lew visited Hands Oval in Bunbury today to officially announce a new mobile site in Davenport has been switched on, which is part of a $6.1 million commitment by the telecommunications provider to improve network coverage across Bunbury and the South West.

Mr Lew said Optus remains committed to connecting and improving mobile coverage in regional locations.

“At Optus, we’re absolutely focussed on improving our network right across Western Australia, but especially in the South West, which is why I’m so pleased to be here in the city of Bunbury following through on that commitment by switching on our new mobile site at Davenport.

“Optus already has a strong 4G network in Bunbury and, as the second largest city in WA, we recognise it’s vital that local residents and business owners not only have access to fast and effective mobile services but that they have a choice in telecommunications providers, and Optus is here to offer that choice,” Mr Lew said.

In the past 12 months Optus has invested $3.7 million in Bunbury, Busselton, Augusta and Margaret River to build five new sites and upgrade four existing mobile sites with the latest 4G technology.

The site at Davenport is the third new site Optus has built and switched on in Bunbury after sites at Bunbury Jetty and Gelorup were completed last year, and sites at Dalyellup and Lake Clifton were upgraded.

Over the next 12-18 months Optus plans to spend $2.4 million to build a further four new sites in the South West located at Burnside and Redgate in Margaret River, as well as Yalyalup in Busselton and Molloy Island near Augusta.

Improved mobile coverage was not the only reason Mr Lew visited Bunbury today, with local sports fans young and old set to benefit from a gift from Optus.

“The other very important reason I’m in Bunbury at Hands Oval is to officially present a new digital scoreboard to the South Bunbury Football Club.

“Optus is more than just a telecommunications provider; we aim to be part of the local community as well and we champion sport by bringing it to Australians on our superior network.

“Optus has donated this digital scoreboard to Bunbury’s sporting community to give spectators a superior fan-experience when watching their local teams play here at Hands Oval,” Mr Lew said.

Measuring three metres by three metres, the huge digital display board was made by Electronic Signage Australia using innovative LED technology and is the first of its kind at the oval.

The new mobile site at Davenport, located in an industrial estate 4.5km south east of Bunbury CBD, will provide improved 3G and 4G coverage to the large cluster of community services, government departments and local small businesses in the estate. It will also improve coverage along the South West Highway, benefitting the thousands of travellers heading to and from the South West each year. Students and staff of South Regional TAFE on Robertson Drive will also experience improved coverage.

The total number of Optus mobile sites in Bunbury now reaches 31, providing consistent coverage across the city and surrounding suburbs.

Optus has committed a total of $275 million to a state-wide program of work in WA, which commenced two and half years ago and will be completed in July 2018, to build more than 90 new sites and upgrade 233 sites to improve mobile coverage and data streaming across the state.

Media enquiries:
Steve Batten/Alyssa Sharpe
Optus Corporate Affairs
(02) 8082 7850
media@optus.com.au