Optus Wins Multiple Satellite Service Deals in Australia
Optus has signed satellite capacity deals with regional broadcasters Southern Cross Media Group, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service and Imparja Television.
All four deals are for 10-year periods and will see the broadcasters deliver next-generation digital free-to-air television services via Optus Satellite to Australian households in areas were terrestrial digital TV signals cannot be received. Optus, which is owned by Singapore Telecom, said the contracts are part of an Australian government program which will transition the country’s analog free-to-air television signals to digital-only signals between 2010 and 2013.
Optus announced that it was awarded multiple contracts to supply mobile and satellite communications services to Australia’s Northern Territory government. Under the terms of the three-year agreement, all government agencies can procure the full suite of Optus mobile voice and data services, including mobile broadband, as well as Optus Thuraya mobile satellite services for voice coverage in remote areas. The government’s existing fleet includes more than 7000 mobile and 600 satellite phone services.