Optus to Pip Telstra at 3G Start Line

April 25, 2005 - source: BWCS

Australia's second largest mobile operator Optus has stolen a march on its rival Telstra with new plans to launch 3G services this week. The mobile company, now-owned by Singapore Telecom, will start offering next generation mobile services in Canberra, with state capital launches to follow during the rest of the year.

The move appears designed to steal Telstra's thunder, the former national incumbent plans launch 3G services in Sydney and Melbourne on 1st July this year. Neither player will be first off the mark Down Under however, that honour has already gone to Hutchison Telecommunications which began offering its 3G services in April 2003. At the end of last year Hutchison had 453,000 customers (not all next generation mobile users) on its 3 network, up from 87,000 at end of 2003.

Optus and Vodafone have formed a joint venture to construct a national 3G network to rival the one being built by Hutchison and Telstra. So far, all of the Australian operators are remaining coy about what services they will offer potential 3G customers. Optus has only said it has "lots of services" up its sleeve. With over 210 mobile internet sites established for its i-mode service, Optus claims to be ahead of the competition in terms of creating mobile content for its subscribers.