MVNO Lycamobile launches in Australia: on Telstra?

Stuart Corner
Monday, 22 November 2010 07:09

Your IT - Mobility

UK-based mobile virtual network operator, Lycamobile, has launched services in Australia, with a focus on low cost international calls from prepaid SIMs. It is reported to be reselling services on Telstra's network.

iTWire understands that the official launch will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 23 November, but the company's local web site www.lycamobile.com.au, which last week redirected to the mail .com site, is now active offering low cost international calls and free international calls Lycamobile to Lycamobile. Calls to the US and Canada and Europe are from 0.5 cents per minute. Calls to Australian landlines five cents per minute and to Australian mobiles 15 cents per minute.

Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan are two cents per minute, to fixed or mobile numbers, and calls to many traditionally high priced destinations, like Afghanistan, Iraq Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia five or eight cents per minute.

iTWire believes the company's modus operandi is similar to that of Lebara Mobile which launched in Australia in March 2009: international calls are taken off the host mobile network in Australia (Lebara uses Vodafone) and routed overseas as voice over IP calls. http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/market/24118-european-mvno-lebara-enters-australian-market

Lycamobile last week signed up to Communications Alliance's number portability scheme - an important prerequisite to offering services in Australia.

Website prepaidMVNO.com said in October that it had had "been informed from a confidential source that Lycamobile is on the verge of launching a new MVNO Service in Australia using Telstra as the underlying MNO network." Telstra to date has not resold services on Next G, only on its 2G network.

iTWire attempted to contact the company's UK press spokesperson last who left a message saying she was in Australia with the company's directors, but we were unable to make contact.

The company's marketing director in the UK said, via email, "We are planning a release this week and would be delighted to send this to you - further to this our CEO is in Australia and would be available for an interview if you would like further comments. I can't elaborate more at this time."  He had not responded to our return email at press time.

According to the company's main web site "Over 6 million customers enjoying the Lycamobile brand. Every 5 seconds a new Lycamobile customer joins our growing family. We connect over 2.5 million mobile calls per day, helping you to make affordable International calls across the world whether it be Asia, Africa, Europe or the America's."

The company was launched in the Netherlands in 2006. Its stated aim is to have 20 million customers by 2012. It now claims to be active in eight countries.  According to its registration with the TIO, its office is at 66 Berry Street North Sydney.