Vodafone in final stages of testing and tuning its high speed 3G network in major regional centres, which will go live during the first week in May 2009
Vodafone Australia has announced it is in the final stages of testing and tuning its high speed 3G network in major regional centres, which will go live during the first week in May 2009.
The upgrade expands 3G services to areas including Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Ballina, Bunbury, Byron Bay, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Kiama, Lismore, Mackay, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Townsville, Wollongong, Bowral, Nowra and Wagga Wagga.
Customers in all other existing Vodafone 2G coverage areas throughout Australia are planned to experience Vodafone 3G services by August 31.
Chief Technology Officer Andy Reeves says Vodafone’s national network upgrade will generate greater competition in the telecommunication market and provide greater choice for more Australian customers.
“It’s great news for Vodafone customers, and we will continue to invest in the network to provide high-quality service when and where it’s needed most,” he says.
“It’s always a race against time to bring major upgrades to market as soon as possible, but it’s even more important to get it right first time and minimise disruptions to normal services.
“We’ve managed the project in a pragmatic way to ensure quality and continuity of coverage for our customers throughout the upgrade project.”
Vodafone confirmed that, following the upgrade in May, its 3G coverage will reach 80 percent of the Australian population.
When the second stage of the upgrade is completed, Vodafone 3G coverage will reach more than 94 percent of the Australian population.