Europe UK : THUS plc announced that it has signed a deal with Wales & West Utilities to connect it to Vodafone's 3G network. THUS will connect the gas distribution supplier via SIM cards placed in existing devices. This is the latest in a number of recent customer wins for THUS in the utilities market, cementing its position as one of the leading communications providers in this important sector.

Under the terms of the deal, THUS will provide Wales & West Utilities with SIM cards to connect remote workers to Vodafone's 3G, allowing employees to send detailed reports from remote locations back into the main network covering 19 depots across Wales and the South West of England as well as the main office located in Newport.

Wales & West Utilities will enjoy significant cost savings by opting to connect to its managed data service via THUS' solution. THUS provides economic connection charges and allows Wales & West Utilities to buy data in bundles of 250Mb per user on a tariff suitable to their needs and generating savings due to THUS' highly competitive, bespoke pricing.

Further benefits include enhanced billing, utilising controls and cost centres on Wales & West Utilities account for up-to-date, online billing. Managers will be able to log on to their account via the THUS website to monitor usage and charges for the accounts relevant to their respective depots. THUS' online account management will enable clearer and more detailed billing, drilling down to the usage patters of individual workers.

David Harrison Head of Infrastructure at West & Wales Utilities commented: "THUS has been able to offer the exact service we needed with well-tailored tariffs. Wales & West Utilities can now enjoy the benefits of 3G networking without suffering as a result of inefficient data bundles, allowing for a more effective use of resources".

THUS has a strong history of winning contracts with utilities companies - a sector worth multi-million pounds to the operator. Phil Male, Chief Operating Officer at THUS plc noted: "THUS has quickly established itself as a dominant force in the Utilities sector, and this latest contract with West & Wales Utilities once again demonstrates our capability. Utilities suppliers need to have reliable communications if they are going to meet the high levels of service demanded by their customers, and it is a testament to THUS' proposition in this market that it is becoming the supplier of choice to utilities businesses across the UK".