Southern Phone

Last updated

Southern Phone
Company type Subsidiary
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded2002;23 years ago (2002)
Headquarters
Moruya, New South Wales
,
Australia
ProductsHome phone services, Mobile phone services, Internet services
Owner AGL Energy
Number of employees
160 [1]
Website southernphone.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 and was owned by local councils [1] until December 2019 when it was acquired by AGL Energy.

History

In 2002, Southern Phone was formed by councils in New South Wales, Australia in order to extend affordable telecommunications into regional communities. [1] [3] [4] 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. [5] In 2017, Southern Phone had 35 shareholders including the Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Coffs Harbour City Council and Bellingen Shire Council. [3] [5] [6]

Optus Satellite partnered with Southern Phone in October 2017 to launch the national broadband network (NBN) Sky Muster. [1] [7] Southern Phone uses the Optus 4G network, as well as parts of the Telstra 4G/3G network for its mobile services. [8] By 2018, Southern Phone had delivered over $14.8 million in dividends to local councils with shares in the company.[ better source needed ]

In October 2019, AGL Energy entered an agreement to acquire Southern Phone from its 35 local councils shareholders for A$27.5 million. [9] The acquisition was finalised in December 2019. [10]

In May 2024, Southern Phone was fined $244,140 for the mishandling of 77 customer complaints between April and June 2023. [11] In December 2025, the company was fined $2.5 million for breaching anti-scam laws. Vulnerabilities in Southern Phone's systems had led to the exposure of customers' mobile number services and bank accounts and customers losing at least $393,000. [12] [13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 "$2 Phone Investment Paying Big Time". Daily Examiner Grafton, N.S.W. 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Laurelle Pacey (31 May 2002). "Southern Phone to ring in cheap calls". Australasian Business Intelligence. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018.
  5. 1 2 Bronwyn Haynes (27 March 2017). "Southern Phone dividends now paid". Crookwell Gazette . Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Southern Inlands Brekkie Wrap". Goulburn Post. 29 March 2017.
  7. ↑ Corinne Reichert (1 February 2018). "Ursys Signs on for Optus D2 satellite". ZD Net.
  8. ↑ "Southern Phone Mobile Plans Review". Canstar Blue.
  9. ↑ Spencer, Leon (16 October 2019). "AGL makes $27.5M bid for Southern Phone Company". ARN. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "AGL rings in a new era with acquisition of Southern Phone Company finalised" (Press release). AGL. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  11. ↑ Mendoza, Kenn Anthony (23 May 2024). "Southern Phone pays $244k for mishandling customer complaints". iTWire. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  12. ↑ Brischetto, Patrick (3 December 2025). "Aussie telco fined $2.5 million for failing to protect customers from scams". 9news. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  13. ↑ Rawling, Caitlin (2 December 2025). "Telco Southern Phone fined $2.5m for breaching anti-scam laws". ABC News. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
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