Optus believes it is important that customers have a true and accurate understanding of the current situation for Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

Paul O'Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, today said that after a year of major investment and system development, MNP had been successfully launched.

"Since Tuesday several thousand customers have ported successfully between Optus, Telstra and Vodafone. Early indications support Optus's view that it will be a net beneficiary of MNP and will gain share.

"It is important that customers are not misled by vested interests into believing the MNP process is unreliable or unwieldy. Australia offers one of the fastest and most convenient porting systems in the World and it is working well.

"By our estimates only a very small percentage of customer ports have been delayed by start-up issues with systems. These issues are rapidly being resolved as they arise.

"Australia and Optus now have a World beating porting system," Mr. O'Sullivan said.

For more information:
Stephen Woodhill
Optus Public Affairs
Phone: 02 9342 7850