Cable & Wireless Optus has stitched up a AU$900 million infrastructure deal with Nokia, to deliver third generation mobile services in Australia two years ahead of the competition.
"The partnership means Nokia is committed to join Optus with an aggressive rollout of 3G services," Optus Mobile Managing Director Paul O'Sullivan said at a news conference.
As reported by ZDNet Australia last week, Optus would be ready to launch 3G services commercially in the latter part of 2002, two years ahead of the highest 3G spectrum bidder, Telstra.
With 2,500 base stations already in place, Optus claims it will overlay 3G services on its existing network, giving it enormous competitive advantage.
"All base stations are now 3G capable,"
"We have huge advantage over any new entrant that has to start from scratch. To match us with amount and quality of base stations," O'Sullivan said.
Optus says other carriers would be faced with major capital investment to rollout 3G services.
Telstra and Vodafone both claim 3G delivery will not be ready until 2004.
According to O'Sullivan, Optus will be watching the rollout of 3G services overseas, which will cover over 20 percent of networks worldwide before the Australian 3G spectrum becomes available in 2002.
The deal with Nokia will see AU$900 million spent over seven years on both 2G and 3G equipment, in which Nokia guarantees fast network rollout and access to the latest 3G technology.
"3G handsets will be available in line with rollout of Optus' 3G network," Nokia Managing Director Kevin Brough said.
