Cable & Wireless Optus has passed the three million customer mark in the third quarter, maintaining its position as the fastest growing mobile network in Australia over the past year.
Paul O'Sullivan, Managing Director Mobile, Cable & Wireless Optus said that Optus now has 3.1 million mobile phone customers, with 33.1 per cent of total mobile market of 9.3 million.
"Optus' total customer base is up 40 per cent since September 1999. In the past two years Optus has grown from 50 per cent of Telstra's base to 70 per cent and again continued to close the gap on Telstra this quarter.
"It is becoming harder to measure true market performance as differences emerge in the way each carrier measures subscriber numbers.
"There is confusion in the market because this quarter one carrier has varied its treatment of prepaid vouchers.
"However we are looking forward to further strengthening our position next quarter as our wholesale providers, Virgin Mobile and Austar start to contribute to our numbers," he said.
Key facts (mobile customer numbers as at 30 September 2000)
Market penetration of mobile phones is 48 per cent with over 9.3 million mobile phone subscribers in Australia. It is expected to go over 50 per cent next quarter.
Optus' total customer base is up 40 per cent since September 1999.
Optus has 33.1 per cent of the total mobile market.
Optus has 3.1 million mobile phone (GSM and CDMA) customers up from 2.86 million quarter last with 222,000 net additions for the September quarter.
