Amaysim to get Optus 4G access in new deal

SIM-only mobile reseller Amaysim will finally get access to Optus' 4G network by April 2015 for its mobile services, under a new deal with Australia's second-largest telecommunications company.

Under the renewed wholesale contract announced by the two companies on Friday, Amaysim will finally get access to Optus 4G for the first time, despite other wholesale Optus mobile customers such as iiNet having access to the 4G network for some time.

Amaysim is expected to offer new 4G plans around that time. Under its current 3G-only plans, Amaysim offers some of the most generous data allowances in the market, at AU$44.90 per month for 5GB of data.

Under the agreement, Amaysim will access Optus' entire 4G network, including the 700MHz spectrum being switched on in January 2015. Optus said that its aim is to get 4G out to 90 percent of Australians by April 2015.

By comparison, Telstra has said that its 4G network will reach 94 percent of Australians early next year. However, Telstra does not offer a wholesale 4G product at this stage.

Last year, Amaysim founder Rolf Hansen told ZDNet that the company decided to wait until Optus had rolled out more of its 4G network before signing an agreement to provide access to 4G for its 500,000 customers.

In a blog post, the Amaysim managing director said the company is looking to get the right plans in place before launching 4G.

"We want to offer cracking 4G plans with a range of options to suit the data needs of as many Aussies as possible. In true Amaysim spirit, value and choice are must-haves, alongside flexibility to move between plans as people wish," he said.