AAPT sets 3G plans for Australia

August 6, 2004

The chief executive of Australia's AAPT has said the operator will start selling 3G mobile phones by early next year. Jon Stretch believes the company would not face the same challenges as rivals Optus and Vodafone, who have plans to build their own 3G networks. He said the 3G service would be ready "later this year or early next year".

AAPT has a 20% stake in Hutchison Telecommunications' 3G business and intends to offer services to its customers using Hutchison's 3G network capacity. The company currently sells its mobile services to customers using Vodafone's network.

"What we're doing is far less complex. We're not building a network," Mr Stretch said.

"AAPT is going to be known for being a great marketing company, not a great telephone company," he added.

Hutchison remains the only operator offering commercial 3G services. Telstra announced earlier in the week that it will buy a 50% stake in Hutchison's 3G business and introduce next generation mobile phones services in mid-2005 utilising Hutchison's 3G network. Vodafone and Optus also plan to join the 3G competition in 2005.