Woolworths is Australia’s newest telco

Telstra today announced that it has signed a wholesale supply agreement with Woolworths that will allow the supermarket chain to act as a virtual network operator. Much like Amaysim, TPG and Boost, Woolworths will have its own branding, subscriber base, pricing and offers, while utilising existing network infrastructure.

Initially, Woolworths will only have access to the 850Mhz and 2100Mhz spectrum of Telstra's 3G network, which are said to reach to 98.5% of the Australian population. 

"This relationship is the first step for Woolworths on the road to delivering a straightforward, high quality and value-driven service for our customers," said Jason Hair, Woolworth's Head of Telco. "We look forward to providing more details on our offer in the coming weeks."

The retail chain has yet to confirm a launch date for its new mobile offerings, or the details of any potential plans.

Woolworths previously offered its own mobile service from 2009 to 2013, powered by Optus' network.