Industry | Telecommunications |
---|---|
Founded | 2002 |
Headquarters | , |
Products | Home phone services, Mobile phone services, Internet services |
Owner | AGL Energy |
Number of employees | 160[1] |
Website | southernphone |
Southern Phone (also known as Southern Phone Company) is an Australian telecommunications company. It is located at Moruya, New South Wales.[2] Southern Phone was established in 2002. It operated as an unlisted public company until December 2019.[1] It was acquired by AGL Energy for A$27.5 million from 35 district councils.[3]
In 2002, Southern Phone was formed by councils in New South Wales, Australia in order to extend affordable telecommunications into regional communities.[1][4][5] The company received $4.77 million in initial funding from the Australian Government's Networking the Nation scheme. Local councils were shareholders,[1] retaining profits in the community. Councils purchased two shares for $1 each.[6] In 2017, Southern Phone had 35 shareholders including the Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Coffs Harbour City Council and Bellingen Shire Council.[4][6][7]
Optus Satellite partnered with Southern Phone in October 2017 to launch the national broadband network (NBN) Sky Muster.[1][8] Southern Phone uses the Optus 4G network, as well as parts of the Telstra 4G/3G network for its mobile services.[9] By 2018, Southern Phone had delivered over $14.8 million in dividends to local councils with shares in the company.[better source needed]