Optus grows mobile customers 10 percent over the year

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 10:48

IT Industry - Strategy

Optus has increased its mobile customer base by 10 percent to 8.225m in the year to 30 September.


The net additions, 223,000, included both mobile phone and mobile broadband customers, and 145,000 of them were post paid. Somewhat surprisingly the percentage of 3G subscribers has not increased significantly. The number of 3G customers rose only slightly more than the overall growth, 11 percent to 3.08 million.

The company said take-up had been "driven by a comprehensive range of smartphones including the iPhone 3GS, popular offerings such as 'Timeless', 'Family Value Packs' and an extensive suite of
mobile content."

The figures were released by parent company SingTel along with mobile numbers for all its subsidiaries ahead of release of its, and Optus', second quarter financial results on Wednesday 11 November.

Overall, the SingTel group added 57 million mobile customers, 26 percent in 12 months, bringing its combined regional mobile customer base to 273 million as at 30 September 2009. Indian operator Bharti Airtel grew its customer base by 43 percent, adding 33 million subscribers. However SingTel counts only a percentage of these in accordance with its equity stake in the company. Thus Bharti contribute just under 10 million subscribers to SingTel's year on year growth.