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THE MARKET
The Australian telecommunications market
continues to be a dynamic and fast paced
industry and has never been more fiercely
contested with consumers enjoying many
benefits especially inmobile and broadband
markets.
As the champion of competition Optus
continues to deliver strong results in a
challenging market, with innovative
telecommunications packages and by
creating a range of products for the home,
business, corporate and government and
wholesale sectors.
Optus continues to challenge and push
for sustainable growth by leading the market
in innovation: providing new ways to use
technology coupled with better service and
convenience.
Optus has invested overA$10 billion in network
and infrastructure and has led innovation with
breakthroughs such as the development of TV on
your mobile, the Optus Zoo portal and Optus
Wireless Connect card.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Mobile continues to be a focus within the company
and the Optus mobile digital network continues to
expand every year and now connects more than six
million customers. However the growth of Optus
goes beyond its 2G and 3Gmobile network.
Over the past couple of years Optus has
continued to invest in state-of-the-art
infrastructure, including its Unbundled Local Loop
network, D-series satellites, Internet Protocol (“IP”)
core, as well as its customer care systems to
enhance the customer
experience.
As convergence
between broadband
and
mobile
technology continues,
Optus is ensuring
consumer’s needs are
met by upgrading its
mobile network to
deliver data services
using High Speed
Downlink Packet
Access (HSDPA).
This
investment
ensures that Optus
can offer more leading
edge products and
services.
Optus continues to deliver high speed
broadband internet services, telephony and
subscription television from its own HFC network
as well as rolling out itsADSL2+ exchanges via the
Unbundled Local Loop (ULL) through the
incumbent’s copper network, across the country
bringing competitive services to more customers.
Optus is Australia’s only satellite owner and
operator with over twenty years experience
delivering satellite services across the length and
breadth of Australia.
Optus expanded its fleet in October 2006 with
the launch of the D1 satellite, the first of the latest
generation Optus D-series satellites – providing
fixed communication
and direct television
broadcast services to
Australia and New
Zealand.
Optus’D2 satellite
is expected to be
launched later this
year and a third D-
series satellite is set
to be delivered in
2009.
HISTORY
Optus commenced
operations in 1992,
winning the second
carrier licence to
become the first private sector company to
challenge Telstra’s monopoly on Australian
telecommunications.
In 1998, Cable & Wireless PLC, who had
been a significant shareholder ever since the
company started, became the majority
shareholder. On November 17 of that year,
the company was listed on the Australian
Stock Exchange as Cable &Wireless Optus
Limited.
In2000,Cable&WirelessPLC’s long term
strategy had shifted away from supplying
broad based telecommunications
products and CWO was therefore no longer
a core business.
OnSeptember 2001, SingTel, theSingapore-
based Asia Pacific regional communications
leader, became the new owner of Optus and
announced that the company would continue to
trade in Australia under the Yes Optus banner.
Today, Optus continues to contribute as a
significantmember ofAsia’s leadingcommunication
company. SingTel and Optus now jointly provide
the global reach and scale, excellent quality and
range of services, reliability as well as stability for
customers.
THE PRODUCT
Optus provides services to over six million
Australian customers every day, providing
telephony, mobile, high speed internet, data
communications, subscription television and
satellite services.
Optus continues to strongly challenge other
mobile operators for market leadership. As mobile
penetration approaches 100 per cent saturation
Optus continues to defend its market position by
increasing its mobile subscriber base to over six
million. Mobile data continues to grow with the
launch of 3G and text messages continue to be an
area of growth especially with the youth market.
What’s more, Optus is committed to the
continuous improvement of coverage, call quality
and data transmission. As mobile and data
technology merge and the convergent revolution
takes place, Optus is positioned to lead customer
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