Telstra launches Next G mobile broadband network
by Donald Melanson 
posted Oct 9th 2006 at 3:31PM
While most our Australian readers will no doubt know about this already, those that don't follow mobile developments from down under as closely should still be interested to know that Telstra flipped the switch on its Next G mobile broadband network on Friday, covering a full 98% of Australia in speedy HSDPA goodness. Coming in at a cost of $1 billion Australian dollars (just under three-quarters of a billion US), Next G looks to be the world's geographically largest national 3G network and, according to Telstra, is up to five times faster than other 3G networks, with download speeds averaging between 550Kbps and 1.5Mbps and peak network speeds reaching up to 3.6Mbps, further increasing to 14.4Mbps early next year. Telstra's also putting all that speed to use right off the bat, offering 12 FOXTEL channels exclusive to Next G handsets, as well as access to Telstra's BigPond service, which'll give users news, entertainment, and other exclusive content, including Warner Bros. movies and BBC television programs.
Filed under: Telstra
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ludio @ Oct 9th 2006 5:14PM
Wow thats impressive how long do you gather they were working on it. Is this the 850mhz network I read on the net about?
Ludio @ Oct 9th 2006 5:20PM
Disregard post. I read the link. Only 10months for 98% coverage is damn nice there.
paolo @ Oct 9th 2006 7:02PM
"Is this the 850mhz network I read on the net about?"
yes this is the same network capable of running 850mhz
the same 850 that cingular uses for its 3G!!
Will @ Oct 9th 2006 9:58PM
With this network, Telstra is also doing untimed calls to local landlines as well as untimed calls to other users on the Telstra network (they are going to really push HSDPA).
Telstra have also been planning on closing off their CDMA network in preference of this Next G network.
But hey, Telstra is not going to stay the only player in this market for too long. Vodafone, Optus as well as Hutchison Telecom's 3 network are the others with HSDPA networks in the works (or even in testing).
One of Telstra's big selling points has always been their network coverage. In some places in Australia, the only mobile provider available is Telstra.
Also, note that the 98% coverage is coverage of the population. Not of the actual land mass of Australia. It only really covers about 25% of Australia.
However, I'll say one thing. Data usage on this network is rather expensive.
Actually, I'll add to that by saying GPRS costs on many mobile networks in Australia is expensive!
Here's the prices for wireless broadband on this Next G network (this is using their HSDPA PCMCIA card):
http://my.bigpond.com/internetplans/broadband/wireless/mobile_plans/default.jsp
$49.95 @ 256kbps for 200MB.
$79.95 @ 256kbps for 1GB.
Not cheap at all.
As an Australian, this is a wait and see at the moment. That is, I want to wait and see what the other providers plan on rolling out over the next few months.
james @ Oct 10th 2006 12:12AM
There's also a flashy campaign site up at http://www.nextg.com.au . Looks impressive as a mobile network, but waaaay expensive for broadband.
Cam @ Oct 10th 2006 2:50AM
I think it is a good network but i am going to stay with 3 till Sony Ericsson has phones that support HSDPA . I don't like the LG and Samsung phones.
By that time the other providers will have there networks up and running. So as Will said it is wait and see time.
mroach @ Oct 10th 2006 8:20AM
850 MHz? Why did they even bother. What a waste.
mantrac @ Oct 10th 2006 11:12AM
As usual, Australian telcos are adopting standards quickly, only to offer them to customers (both business and private) at high enough prices to virtually guarantee no significant uptake.
Australia was one of the first countries in the world to launch a 3G network too (with H3G).
Ask any Australian how much they use their 3G or even GPRS mobiles for data access and you'll be hard-pressed to find a handful of people who are anything more than extremely casual users.
In a country where wired broadband is still charged by the megabyte on 200MB download/month plans (this is wired, NOT wireless!) and customers are penalised for downloading a single megabyte more, the launch of even faster wireless broadband seems like an ironic joke for Australia's internet users.
Read this article about Fraudband, a publication in the financial review commenting on the placing of Australia among the lowest developed nations in internet usage adoption.
http://kalimna.blogspot.com/2006/04/fraudband_10.html
This country has problems and none of them are related to wireless.
It's the Telcos as well as the passive attitude of the australian people towards this ongoing issue, that needs serious fixing.
Then again, with such nice weather, who can blame them for not worrying too much about the internet? :-)
P.S. Since you mentioned Telstra, just read those ridiculous terms and conditions of the same company on their wired ADSL broadband packages...
http://tinyurl.com/hhyj9
12 month contracts and 200MB monthly download limits on 256kbits for what seems to be a cheap price but ONLY if you bundle it with a Telstra cellphone voice contract and Telstra landline... Oh dear!
Cyril Jones @ Jun 12th 2007 5:36AM
My Mobile no: is 4519336950
I recently upgraded with a new 2 Year Contract To the Next G network. With my prior service the signal strength was very poor - at times having no service.
I had hoped that the upgrade to Next G would have meant an improvement to the Signal but am still experiencing periods of none and limited service.
I am very disappointed. On reporting this I have been advised that I am in a " Dead Zone "
My home Address is 12 Kimbarra Court, Ararat. 3377
Surely this is just not good enough in a Country City. ????