Mobile subscribers to Australia's second largest telco Optus jumped by 18 per cent in 2003 to 5.36 million.
Optus parent Singapore Telecommunications said today Optus' mobile subscriber base had grown from 4.54 million in December 2002 to 5.36 million at the end of 2003.
"The growth was achieved despite a mobile penetration of 77 per cent in Australia and Optus took market share and added more high value customers," SingTel said.
"Optus has an on-going mobile coverage enhancement program with the aim of providing improved coverage throughout Australia.
"Since 1999, it has built an average of one new mobile base station every day, and today the Optus mobile network provides mobile coverage to 94 per cent of Australia's population."
With around 34 per cent market share Optus trails Telstra which holds about 45 per cent of the market, but is ahead of Vodafone which has about 17 per cent.
The latest mobile subscriber figures were released by SingTel as it said its regional subscriber base surpassed 44 million.
SingTel said the combined mobile subscriber base of its four regional associates grew 37 per cent from about 32 million a year ago.
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