Telstra has announced it is accelerating the launch of 4G services on the newly available 700 MHz band. The operator plans to expand total 4G coverage to reach 90 percent of Australia’s population by end-January 2015. Telstra plans to launch 4G on 700 MHz services on 1 January 2015 to cover a three kilometre radius of all capital CBDs and 50 regional locations. The operator will then expand commercial trials of 700 MHz services to 20 additional metropolitan and regional centers in the lead up to January, with selected areas of Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, Bundaberg, Yamba and Sarina, to come online next week.
Telstra hopes to have more than 1 million 700 MHz ready devices used by its customers by the end of year. Telstra reports it has invested around AUD 1.3 billion to add 700 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum to its 4G service.
The operator also plans to expand the use of carrier aggregation services, combining the 700 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, and providing customers with compatible devices with theoretical peak network speeds up to 300 Mbps.
The availability of 4G 700 services is being brought forward in a number of locations through a series of 4G 700 commercial trials, and starting next week, Telstra will switch on services in parts of Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, Bundaberg, Yamba and Sarina. 20 additional metropolitan and regional centres are expected to benefit from early access in the lead up to January.
