One hundred Motorola pre-paid mobile handsets, bundled with AU$30 recharge kits and re-charge cards, will be distributed to firefighters and families affected by the fires. The handsets will help them maintain communications with family and friends during the crisis that has seen over 150 homes destroyed by the raging fires.
"We understand that in times of crisis like this the need to speak to family and friends is vital," Paul Kitchin, director mobile marketing for Optus said in a statement. "We hope the residents affected by this tragedy and the firefighters, who have come from near and far, can take advantage of these mobiles to contact friends and loved ones."
An Optus spokesperson told ZDNet Australia that is it up to the NSW Rural Fire Service to decide how to distribute the mobile phones, "they know the area[s] of most need," she said. "We don't expect them back."
Meanwhile, the telco continues to monitor its mobile network operations, severely damaged by the blazes south and west of Sydney.
Whilst the majority of Optus's mobile network is fully operational the bushfires have impacted services at five mobile base station sites including; Helensburgh, Stanwell Park, Garrawarra Ridge and Darkes Forest in Sydney's south and 12 Mile Peg near Ulladulla on the South Coast.
"We are currently unable to access these sites to ascertain the damage. However, we have a number of portable base stations and power generators on standby and we will do our best to restore services as soon as possible," Kitchin said. "In the meantime, our teams of network engineers have restored mobile services in other fire-damaged areas including; Wallacia Golf Club, Mulgoa, Vincentia, Falls Creek, Lake Conjola and Boyne Trig."
It's great to see the teleco's help out, and not even expect the phones back after the disaster is over.
Congratulations Optus!