Australia's Optus has secured an agreement to continue to provide satellite services with the Australian Department of Defence, extending a relationship that has been in place since 2003.
Under the contract, SigTel subsidiary Optus will provide satellite payload and capability over its C1 satellite.
The deal involves command and control of the Optus C1 Defence payload, which will now be provided throughout the life of the satellite. The C1 satellite was originally jointly funded by Optus and the Department of Defence.
“As Australia’s leading satellite operator, we continue to reaffirm our credentials as a partner of choice with key government and enterprise organisations,” Optus Satellite vice president Paul Sheridan said.
Optus has meanwhile unveiled a new range of broadband plans offering unlimited data - still a relative rarity in the Australian internet market.
The unlimited data plans come in three bundles – one including a landline phone and on-demand entertainment service Optus TV, one that comes unlimited domestic and international call inclusions, and one that combines both the previous bundles.
Optus is charging A$95 per month for the home entertainment and call bundles, and A$115 per month for the combined home entertainment and call bundle.