Optus has announced a partnership with Seven Network "to offer customers on eligible post-paid mobile plans exclusive data-free streaming of Seven’s coverage of live sporting events from the 2018 Australian Open Tennis, Olympic Winter Games and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games."

The telco says Seven’s extensive and exclusive broadcast coverage of these events "will be available to stream live and on-demand via three new apps – 7Tennis, Olympics on 7 and 7Comm Games – which will be available to download from the Google Play and Apple App stores progressively from 18 December 2017."

Optus MD of Marketing and Product, Ben White, said, “Optus’ partnership with Seven further expands our wide range of exciting entertainment options available to Optus customers, giving them access to more than 3000 hours of the best live-action sporting events on offer in Australia this summer all streamed data-free.

“Consuming content on the go is fast becoming the most popular way Australian’s watch sport and entertainment. By partnering with Seven, Optus customers can catch the action whether they’re watching on the commute to work, at the beach or at a summer BBQ.”

Kurt Burnette, Seven’s Chief Revenue Officer and Event Director, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Optus given its involvement with The Australian Open, the Australian Olympic Team and the Commonwealth Games. Seven is the home of the biggest events over the coming months and is committed to bringing these events to all Australians in new and innovative ways.

“Together with Optus we will connect Australian consumer with every magic moment in what will be the largest combined audiences of 2018, across the screens of Seven data free with Optus – a true consumer first proposition.”

We're told that each of the new dedicated mobile TV apps offered by Seven "will give customers the ability to choose from multiple streams of sporting events at one time."

With the 7Tennis app, "customers can choose from up to 16 courts streamed live, users of the Olympics on 7 app will be able to select from up to 7 events being streamed at any one time, while the 7Comm Games app enables users to choose from up to 14 events that will be streamed at once."

Data-free streaming via the apps "will be available to new and recontracting Optus customers on 24 month My Plan Plus, My Plan Flex, 12 month My Plan Plus SIM Only plans or 24 month My Mobile Broadband Plus $35 or above plan with Mobile TV Streaming included. Existing Optus post-paid customers can confirm their eligibility via the My Optus app."

Optus proudly boasts of being "the official support network for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and will provide the event’s communications infrastructure and managed services to ensure fast and effective mobile and internet coverage for attendees across the 30 Commonwealth Games venues. Optus is also the official telecommunications partner of the Australian Olympic team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang."

Seven tells us it is "the network of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang in 2018 and the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo in 2020. Seven is also the home of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, and will launch 2018 with coverage of The Australian Open."