Optus to shut all Virgin Mobile stores by end of June

Optus is set to close all of Virgin Mobile’s retail stores by the end of June this year, with the telco providing more details on its planned closure and integration of the subsidiary brand.

In details published on the Virgin website today, Optus encouraged Virgin customers to begin planning their move to Optus-branded services, though it reiterated they could continue to use services for up to two years more.

“If you're still within your commitment period, your service will continue as per usual,” the telco said.

“Customers who are out of commitment can now preview great value Optus plans.”

Optus invited existing customers to input their details into a web form to check migration deals.

New Virgin postpaid mobile and data-only services will only be accepted up until mid-June.

After then, existing users “will be able to visit Optus retail stores for sales enquiries, replacement SIM cards and handset repairs”, Optus said.

Optus said it would close all Virgin retail stores between June 4 and June 30.

It said the decision had been taken to shutter Virgin in part because of the approaching licence renewal to be able to continue marketing the Virgin brand.

“This decision comes as a result of a strategic review of the Optus and Virgin Mobile brands which was recently conducted ahead of the approaching expiry of the Virgin Mobile brand licence in 2020,” it said.

Virgin Mobile’s closure affects up to 200 workers, though some may be redeployed in the Optus retail network.

How much room there is to re-accommodate staff is unclear, given Optus has its own mobile woes to contend with, and is also reducing its own workforce.

Virgin Mobile Australia became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Optus back in 2006.
It acts a low-cost option for users that want services on the Optus mobile network.