Qantas completes Optus wifi rollout

Qantas has deployed an Optus wifi service in 40 frequent flyer lounges across the country, replacing a Telstra network that travellers previously found unreliable.

The new, free service was deployed by Optus subsidiary Alphawest under a five-year, managed services contract inked last year.

It is underpinned by Cisco 802.11n-grade wireless routers, an Optus Evolve IP VPN and internet service, and Optus’ content filtering and security service.

The service is accessible in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Alice Springs, Broome, Coffs Harbour, Cairns, Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Launceston, Mackay, Port Headland, Townsville and Rockhampton.

Australian Business Traveller reported that the new Optus network clocked about 20 Mbps at Sydney Airport, while its predecessor was “a very hit-and-miss affair”.