Vodafone assumes direct control of TelstraClear managed mobile customer base

July 2, 2007

With the conclusion of the TelstraClear agency agreement at the end of June, Vodafone is contacting all customers currently managed by TelstraClear to reassure them that it will be business as usual for their mobile services.

Customers will still be able to make and receive calls, TXT, PXT and have access to all of Vodafone’s mobile broadband content, like live rugby on Sky Mobile TV, video calling and the best mobile calling plans in the country.

TelstraClear and Vodafone originally signed the agency agreement in 2000. The industry has moved on since then and last year Vodafone announced the launch of a wholesale offer into the market which effectively replaces the agency arrangement for operators. This wholesale offer has been warmly received in the industry and both Orcon (now owned by Kordia) and Compass Communications have signed up to offer services on Vodafone’s network. Australian telco M2 is also in discussions to finalise its wholesale service and Vodafone and TelstraClear are currently in talks over a wholesale relationship as well.

The agency agreement ends officially on June 30 and customers will be contacted individually from that point on to confirm the details of the move back to direct management by Vodafone.

Customers will keep their existing mobile numbers (021, 029, and 027) and devices and won’t experience any interruption to their mobile service. Once a customer transitions back to Vodafone his or her next monthly bill will be from Vodafone instead of TelstraClear. At that time, support will also be available directly from Vodafone.

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