Optus' broadband network needs more Soul

In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, the two telcos today announced they had signed an agreement under which Soul and its subsidiary, mobile carrier B Digital, would get access to Optus's new network as well as other data and transmission services.

Optus is currently rolling out ADSL2+ hardware around the nation, with the network eventually expected to cover 2.9 million households and businesses.

Upon the network's initial launch a month ago, the SingTel subsidiary said it expected wholesale services to be commercially ready in the second half of this year.

Optus and Soul also extended an agreement under which B Digital sells mobile phone services on the back of Optus's mobile network. The new three-year agreement has a value of AU$100 million per annum, the two telcos said.

Today's deal is reflective of a closer relationship between Soul and Optus. The pair could be seen as natural partners due to Soul owning infrastructure primarily in regional areas compared with Optus' solid metro coverage.

In association with five other telcos, just a week and a half ago the pair launched a cooperative bid to upgrade the nation's broadband infrastructure.