Optus to steal 3G thunder

Cable & Wireless Optus looks set to deliver third generation mobile telephony services years ahead of its competitors.

"It is true we have a spectacular plan for 3G," a C&W Optus spokesperson confirmed to ZDNet.

The spokesperson said however, "it won't be until October 2002 until we start to see anything spectacular [in 3G]."

Australia's leading carriers are expecting a 3G rollout in 2004.

According to a ZDNet source, C&W Optus appears to be playing coy over its plan for an early rollout of its 3G services, which the source said is already under construction.

C&W Optus stood firm today, making no comment on its intended 3G delivery, other to say it has good reason to believe it is ahead of the other big players.

Leading buyer of 3G spectrum in Australia, Telstra, told ZDNet it has no decisions to construct a 3G network at this stage, preferring to monitor the space to find the most suitable technology to deliver 3G services on.

"We'll wait and see the demand for 3G service," a Telstra spokesperson said.

Telstra Group Managing Director, On-Air, Dick Simpson said in an announcement recently that it is highly unlikely there would be a 3G network commercially constructed until 2004.

Vodafone Australia also expects to start offering customers access to many 3G services in 2004.