Telco hikes phone bill

Singapore Telecommunications' Optus unit, Australia's second-largest phone company, will increase the rental price for residential fixed-line telephone access by 8 per cent from August 1.

The monthly line access cost will increase by A$1.95 to A$25.95 ($28.50), the company said in a letter to customers. Australia's largest phone company, Telstra, earlier said it would raise rental fees by up to 15 per cent from July as revenue from calls drops.

Optus also plans to increase the call connection fee for long-distance calls to 37Ac from 35Ac, and to increase the per minute rate on calls to cell phones by the same amount.