The Brisbane-based Indigo was launched last month by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh. The company used Hopgood Ganim to assist with the commercial and regulatory aspects of its communication services.

"In addition to advising on the commercial arrangements associated with the new service, we advised Indigo Telecom on its corporate structuring, dealer and supplier arrangements, telecommunications and technology-based agreements, terms of use, standard agreement forms for end users, capital raising activities and employment matters," Hopgood IP and Technology head Michael Morris said.

The firm sent an associate on secondment to Indigo to assist with the legal aspects of its start-up phase.

Indigo claims that its multi-billion dollar hybrid communications network will cover all of Australia's landmass and go out to sea. Its products include satellite only mobile handsets, a single handset combining satellite telephony and a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and a satellite maritime device providing voice and data in sea vessels.

Indigo is looking to challenge Telstra's position in the Australian market, with IT Wire reporting that the fledgling telco believes there is an untapped market of up to one million users in Australia, with opportunities due to the inadequacy of available offerings from Telstra and its poor marketing and distribution strategies.