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Southern Phone

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Southern Phone
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded2002; 24 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 and was owned by local councils[1] until December 2019 when it was acquired by AGL Energy.

History

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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

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  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. ^ 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.
  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. ^ a b 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.