Optus’ vice president of retail, Frances Martin said Optus’ investment in the Mudgee community is vital to providing a stronger mobile network and an improved customer experience.

“This new store offers the latest gadgets, gizmos and products with our friendly staff on hand to provide advice on the best plans to suit the needs of customers,” Ms Martin said.

Mid-Western Regional Council deputy mayor Paul Cavalier officially opened the Church Street store, saying the network is showing confidence in the region.

“It’s really good to see another telephone company that’s showing confidence in regional NSW, and it’s certainly really important to have competition in business and this gives all of the locals another option,” he said.

“We’re always happy to see new businesses come to town.”

Optus NSW state manager, Dylan Harrad-Chantler assured the community they are available to help, ‘particularity when things don’t go right’.

“A large part of why we’re here is to service the community, not just sell to them, we are here to win customers over,” he said.

Optus also announced a $500,000 investment in the mobile network to build a new site to improve coverage in the Mudgee CBD.

“It’s another added benefit for Mudgee, everyone benefits from it,” Cr Cavalier said.

“There really targeting the mining areas, so they’ve got really good coverage, which is really important here because so many of the locals work in the mining industry.”

Work to build the new site is expected to start in the next 12 months.

Friday’s announcement forms part of Optus’ $1 billion commitment to improve mobile coverage and services where people live, work and travel.