Woosh open to wholesale offers

By PAUL BRISLEN

Woosh Wireless is considering a move into the wholesale network operator market to bolster its fast-internet customer numbers.

Chairman Rod Inglis says the company has been approached by internet providers in the past.

"We're open to the model and willing to discuss it, certainly."

Woosh sells its service through several retail partners, such as Dick Smith and Vodafone stores.

Other network companies, such as wireless operators BCL and Wired Country, sell their services to internet providers such as Ihug and ICONZ, who in turn sell to the customers. Telecom is also adopting this wholesale model with one of its own broadband offerings, JetStream Surf.

Woosh chief executive Bob Smith said the company had broken through the 5000 customer number and uptake of the service was good in areas where it was available.

Telecom said recently about 2000 customers a week were signing for its new JetStream, and the company hoped to have 250,000 customers by the end of next year.

Inglis said Woosh had focused more on building the network and brand until now.

"Our primary focus has been on the network rollout, on establishing the service and building on quality levels," he said.

"Now we're in a better position to talk to other providers."

ICONZ general manager Sean Weekes said his company would definitely talk to Woosh about reselling the service, but wanted to see the infrastructure in place before committing.

"Yes, we've spoken to them in the past and we're definitely interested. But with a wholesale agreement you have to be sure the technology and infrastructure are in place before you wholesale it."

Weekes said Woosh was taking the right approach by rolling out network and testing it before offering a wholesale regime," Weekes said.

"But the downside to that is that it takes time.

"You've also got to carefully manage user expectations - you can't say something's coming in April and then not deliver till July.

"That won't help you at all."