We've heard a lot of complaints from our rural readers about difficulties getting mobile service on Telstra's Next G network after the CDMA network closure. If you fall into this category then the following may be for you.
Southern Phone Company (SPC) is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) — similar to Virgin and Dodo — meaning they resell the network services of the other providers, in this case Telstra and Vodafone. What sets SPC apart is its focus on delivering service to rural customers, and what it does with the money it makes.
According to its Web site, Southern Phone Company was established as part of the Federal Government's "Networking the Nation" scheme in 2002. It's owned by a collection of local councils in NSW and aims to provide mobile phone and broadband services to regional Australia; customers who have traditionally fallen victim to high pricing due to a lack of competition in their areas. Profits from the sale of services through SPC benefit the communities of the 41 councils who are shareholders in the company.
For customers, Southern Phone Company offers a pay-as-you-go service, as well as familiar capped plans. Customers can switch to SPC without any sign-up fees or lock-in contracts and pay only for the calls they make. When signing up, customers choose to use either Telstra's or Vodafone's GSM network, depending on which service they know works better in their region.
Southern Phone Company also offer ADSL service, again with a view to connecting Australians in regional areas. For more information about the mobile and broadband services check out the Web site.
Do you know of an alternative to the "Big 4" mobile service providers? We'd love to hear about your experiences with Southern Phone Company, or a similar service, on our forums.
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