iiNet to offer mobile phone services?

Broadband ISP iiNet is considering reselling mobile phone and mobile data services. The company also hopes to replace Optus as the second largest broadband player in Australia, according to Greg Bader, the company's chief technology officer.

"We don't have a mobile phone network, which is a shame I guess ... but certainly there are people we are talking to from a partnership point of view," Bader let slip in a ZDNet.com.au video interview.

"Wireless data is an interesting product, I don't see it as a competitor to fixed data, but I certainly see it as complementary, and we'll be looking at things in that space as well," said Bader.

Last week one of iiNet's closest competitors, People Telecom, signed a deal with Vodafone for the resale of the mobile carrier's mobile voice, email and data services. Bader's comments suggest a similar deal may be on the cards for iiNet.

Perth-based iiNet became the nation's third largest ISP with its June acquisition of fellow West Australian service provider WestNet. It has also been rapidly signing up new customers courtesy of its first-mover advantage on Naked DSL and offering attractive unmetered content to its subscribers, including free online access to the ABC and English Premier League.

The ISP's management hopes to leapfrog Optus to become the second-biggest broadband player in Australia.

"Personally I think we can be number two in the broadband space," Bader said. "I think number one is a fair ask, but certainly number two. I think the rate of growth we're experiencing at the moment is better than we've ever had. We're a solid business, we're making good margins. We clearly want to be a significant player in this market."