Southern Phone

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Southern Phone
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded2002; 19 years ago (2002)
Headquarters
Moruya, New South Wales
,
Australia
ProductsHome phone services, Mobile phone services, Internet services
OwnerAGL Energy
Number of employees
160[1]
Websitesouthernphone.com.au

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]

History[]

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]

Southern Phone has received various awards, such as the Home Phone Provider of the Year,[8][9][10][11] and the Commitment to Customer Service award.[12]

Optus Satellite partnered with Southern Phone in October 2017 to launch the national broadband network (NBN) Sky Muster.[1][13] Southern Phone uses the Optus 4G network, as well as parts of the Telstra 4G/3G network for its mobile services.[14] By 2018, Southern Phone had delivered over $14.8 million in dividends to local councils with shares in the company.[better source needed]

Philanthropy[]

In 2014, Southern Phone launched the Southern Phone Grants Scheme and committed $1 million to regional community support in Australia. $25,000 is donated each year to each of the local council shareholders to be shared with community groups in their local region, in addition to the dividends each shareholder receives. In 2017, Southern Phone launched its STEM scholarship program, a $2,000 scholarship available to finishing high school students who will go on to study a STEM related degree at university. Regarding the motive behind the scholarship, current Managing Director, David Joss said “By supporting the education of promising local students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, we will help future proof regional Australia.” [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Leon Spencer (12 October 2017). "Southern Phone and Optus partner up for NBN Sky Muster service". ARN.
  2. ^ Dominic Zietsch (14 October 2010). "Telco GM meets with Clarence Valley mayor". Daily Examiner Grafton. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ "AGL rings in a new era with acquisition of Southern Phone Company finalised" (Press release). AGL. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b "$2 Phone Investment Paying Big Time". Daily Examiner Grafton, N.S.W. 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018.
  5. ^ Laurelle Pacey (31 May 2002). "Southern Phone to ring in cheap calls". Australasian Business Intelligence. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018.
  6. ^ a b Bronwyn Haynes (27 March 2017). "Southern Phone dividends now paid". Crookwell Gazette. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Southern Inlands Brekkie Wrap". Goulburn Post. 29 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Roy Morgan announces 2014 winners of Customer Satisfaction Awards". Roy Morgan. 18 February 2015.
  9. ^ "The Winners of the 2015 Telecommunications and Utilities Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards". Australasian Business intelligence. 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018.
  10. ^ "2016 Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards: Telecommunications and Utilities Winners Revealed". Australasian Business Intelligence. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018.
  11. ^ "2017 Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards: Telecommunications and Utilities winners revealed". Roy Morgan. 23 February 2018.
  12. ^ "2016 Acomm Award Winners Announced". Communications Alliance.
  13. ^ Corinne Reichert (1 February 2018). "Ursys Signs on for Optus D2 satellite". ZD Net.
  14. ^ "Southern Phone Mobile Plans Review". Canstar Blue.
  15. ^ Alasdair McDonald. "Bega Valley Public School's Southern Phone grant makes a difference". Bega District News.
  16. ^ "Liberty Swing to open in Yass". Yass Tribune. 21 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Yass Valley groups benefit from $25,000 in funding from the Southern Phones Grants Scheme". Yass Tribune. 17 February 2016.
  18. ^ Greg Ellis (20 January 2016). "IMB Bank Helps Rotary with new barbecue trailer". Illawarra Mercury.
  19. ^ Alix Douglas (1 June 2016). "Managing Mange in the Mullion". Yass Tribune.
  20. ^ Craig Thomson (3 August 2017). "Driver simulator increasing its reach". The Young Witness.
  21. ^ Zoe Cartwright (9 December 2017). "STEM for success". Bay Post.
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