03 Oct 2013

Optus has signed a five-year contract with the State Government of Western Australia to deliver an enhanced satellite service through the Optus Aurora Digital Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) platform.

Under the new agreement, Optus will continue to support the Department of Regional Development in the carriage of regional television through Westlink. Broadcasting via the Optus Aurora Digital platform, Westlink hosts a range of vital public health and education television broadcast services throughout the state of Western Australia on VAST Channel 602.

Robert Parcell, Managing Director, Optus Wholesale & Satellite said, “We’re proud of our role in continuing to support the State Government of Western Australia with our satellite capabilities. We have worked closely with the Department since 1992 to provide satellite communications services. Today’s announcement represents a major upgrade to an enhanced, digital-quality health and education service on the Optus Aurora Digital platform.”

Bob Glover, Manager of Westlink, said, “The Westlink service makes it easier for people living in rural and remote communities to access services from public and private agencies. The Optus Aurora Digital platform provides the crucial link in delivering this for us.”

Optus has been operating the Aurora Digital platform since mid-2010, when the VAST television broadcasters commenced transmission on this platform. The Optus Aurora Digital satellite platform utilises the latest MPEG4 and DVB-S2 technologies, providing a more efficient use of bandwidth and a better viewer experience for end-users.

Leading broadcasters such as Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), Southern Cross, WIN, GWN7 and Imparja use the Optus Aurora Digital platform to deliver the VAST service. VAST is now available to over 156,000 households.