Singapore’s SingTel owned Optus, one of Australia’s two iPhone carriers, recently said it will invest a further AU$315 million (US$295 million) in building its HSPA-enabled 3G network. The idea is of course to compete and match Teltra’s 99% 3G network coverage and ultimately get more customers.
Last year, Optus announced it will invest AU$500 million into extending its network to 96% of the population, and the latest investment announced will see it add a further 2% coverage. The new sections of the network will operate on 900MHz, allowing it to travel further in rural areas.
Commenting on the announcement, Optus’ CEO Paul O’Sullivan said, “With this significant expansion we will be the only mobile carrier capable of challenging the incumbent’s (Telstra’s) network reach.”
The country’s third-placed operator, Vodafone Australia, has also committed to rolling-out HSPA to 95% of the population by year-end.
[Via: TheAge]