Southern Phone
{{short description|Australian telecommunications company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Southern Phone
| logo = Southern_Phone_Logo.png
| type =
| industry = Telecommunications
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|2002}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = Moruya, New South Wales
| hq_location_country = Australia
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products = Home phone services, Mobile phone services, Internet services
| owner=AGL Energy
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = {{URL|southernphone.com.au/}}
}}
Southern Phone (also known as Southern Phone Company) is an Australian telecommunications company. It is located at Moruya, New South Wales.{{cite web| url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25628767.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403173619/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25628767.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=April 3, 2018| title=Telco GM meets with Clarence Valley mayor| date=October 14, 2010| author=Dominic Zietsch| publisher=Daily Examiner Grafton}} Southern Phone was established in 2002. It operated as an unlisted public company until December 2019. It was acquired by AGL Energy for {{AUD|27.5 million}} from 35 district councils.{{cite press release |url=https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/media-centre/asx-and-media-releases/2019/december/agl-rings-in-a-new-era-with-acquisition-of-southern-phone-company-finalised |publisher=AGL |title=AGL rings in a new era with acquisition of Southern Phone Company finalised |date=19 December 2019 |accessdate=23 April 2020}}
History
In 2002, Southern Phone was formed by councils in New South Wales, Australia in order to extend affordable telecommunications into regional communities.{{cite web| url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87005633.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403173453/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87005633.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=April 3, 2018| title=Southern Phone to ring in cheap calls| author=Laurelle Pacey| date=May 31, 2002| publisher=Australasian Business Intelligence}} The company received $4.77 million in initial funding from the Australian Government's Networking the Nation scheme. Local councils were shareholders, retaining profits in the community. Councils purchased two shares for $1 each. In 2017, Southern Phone had 35 shareholders including the Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Coffs Harbour City Council and Bellingen Shire Council.{{cite web| url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34201625.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403173433/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34201625.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=April 3, 2018| title=$2 Phone Investment Paying Big Time| date=February 4, 2013| publisher=Daily Examiner Grafton, N.S.W.}}{{cite web| url=https://www.crookwellgazette.com.au/story/4556905/southern-phones-23659-dividend/|title=Southern Phone dividends now paid|date=2017-03-27|author=Bronwyn Haynes|newspaper=Crookwell Gazette|access-date=2018-04-02}}{{cite web| url=http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/4561840/southern-inlands-brekkie-wrap-wednesday-march-29-2017/|title=Southern Inlands Brekkie Wrap| date=March 29, 2017| publisher=Goulburn Post}}
Optus Satellite partnered with Southern Phone in October 2017 to launch the national broadband network (NBN) Sky Muster.{{cite web| url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/628534/southern-phone-optus-partner-up-nbn-sky-muster-service/| title=Southern Phone and Optus partner up for NBN Sky Muster service| author=Leon Spencer| date=October 12, 2017| publisher=ARN}}{{cite web| url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ursys-signs-on-for-optus-d2-satellite/| title=Ursys Signs on for Optus D2 satellite| author=Corinne Reichert| date=February 1, 2018| publisher=ZD Net}} Southern Phone uses the Optus 4G network, as well as parts of the Telstra 4G/3G network for its mobile services.{{cite web| url=https://www.canstarblue.com.au/phone/brands/southern-phone-mobile-plans/| title=Southern Phone Mobile Plans Review| publisher=Canstar Blue}} By 2018, Southern Phone had delivered over $14.8 million in dividends to local councils with shares in the company.{{Better source|reason=This links leads to the website with company advertising. There must be a better source for this.|date=March 2018}}