Woolworths is a mobile reseller… again

Supermarket giant Woolworths has become a mobile reseller for the second time, this time on-selling Telstra 3G services.

The Woolworths Connect pre-paid service will be launched Monday, with $30 and $45 packages inclusive of voice, SMS and data. Mobile broadband packages priced at $15, $30 and $100 were also announced, but the volume of data included in each were not revealed.

The retailer referred media to the Woolworths Connect website for more details but as of the morning of Friday 12 June no information was available, with the messsage, "We are not quite open for business yet".

In 2013, Woolworths shut down its first foray into the mobile channel after two years of reselling Optus. The change of network was heavily emphasised in the announcement of the latest venture.

"Our customers want a trusted network at a great price and we are excited to deliver this with Woolworths Connect," said Woolworths head of telco Jason Hair. "We'll also reward our valued Everyday Rewards customers by offering an additional discount every time they recharge."

SIMs and recharge vouchers will be available from Monday at selected Woolworths supermarkets, Big W department stores and Woolworths Caltex petrol stations. Vouchers will also be available in BWS liquor shops and online.

"We are excited that we'll be growing Woolworths Connect over the coming months, with additional services to be offered later in the year," said Hair.

A fortnight ago, Woolworths announced that it would be a wholesale provider of the Telstra 3G network. A Telstra spokesperson told sister publication iTnews at the time that the supermarket would be free to take up the 4G service when it's opened to wholesale partners in 2016.

Woolworths' supermarket business has been in the headlines in recent months for losing market share to rivals Coles and Aldi, while its Masters hardware venture has lost significant money in its early life. The company racked up $15 billion of revenue in the quarter ending 31 March through all its activities, a year-on-year dip of 2.1 percent.