Southern Phone

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.

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]