Optus mobile customer numbers surge

Singtel-owned Optus has achieved record quarterly growth in new post-paid mobile customers after recent spending on network improvements.

An Optus retail shop is seen in the Brisbane CBD

Singtel-owned Optus has achieved record quarterly growth in post-paid mobile customers. (AAP)

Optus has achieved its best quarterly growth in mobile contract customers, signing a record 127,000 new subscribers in the three months to December.

Australia's second-biggest telco had a total 6.19 million pre-and-post-paid customers on its 4G network, while its NBN customer numbers rose by 65,000 to 416,000 as more people are shifted onto the national broadband network.

Singtel-owned Optus said the number of new subscribers was slightly offset by a 29,000 decline in prepaid customers.

The telco reported its third-quarter results on Thursday, with its Australian operating revenue up 5.5 per cent on the prior corresponding period to $2.34 billion.

Australian net profit for the three months to December 31 jumped 39.3 per cent to $262 million, from $188 million a year ago, driven by a 15 per cent jump in earnings on the back of increased mobile service revenue, NBN migration and higher income from disputes settlement.

Chief executive Allen Lew said it was a "pleasing result" which had benefited from new mobile phone releases and continued network expansion.

Optus said its 4G coverage now reaches 96.6 per cent of the Australian population, and the additional spectrum bought at auction last year will enable it to offer high capacity 5G services in the future.


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Source: AAP


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