Optus trials 900MHz gear for 3G network expansion

Stuart Corner
Monday, 16 April 2007 10:23

Business IT - Networking

Optus has completed trials of 900MHz 3G network equipment in preparation for the planned network expansion, suggesting that prospects for the expansion using the lower cost 900MHz frequency are improving.

When it announced its network expansion plans, Optus had not decided whether to use the same frequency as its existing 3G network, 2100MHz, or 900MHz. The lower frequency would reduce capex from $800m to $500m. Optus said. However, it expressed concerns that there were few users elsewhere in the world and few handsets. Optus said a final decision on technology would be made later.

Optus has since revealed that it has applied for broadband connect funding to expand coverage from the 96 percent of the population which this expansion would give it to 98 percent of the population, at an estimated cost of $370 million.

The trial was carried out by Optus in the central west of NSW using Huawei's 900MHz transmitters and a team of Huawei and Optus personnel. According to Huawei, "Optus plans further technical trials of the UMTS900 network in the central west town of Dubbo over the coming months and is expected to make a decision on the technology later in 2007."
"Within three months of agreeing to the trial, Huawei and Optus built and tested a UMTS900 network. The trial involved a myriad of Optus and Huawei staff and is an achievement that we are very proud of. In particular, Huawei were able to deliver in the timeframe we required," Henry Calvert, director, Mobile Products at Optus said.

According to Huawei "UMTS900 [90MHz] is seen as an ideal frequency for sparsely populated areas, as a single UMTS900 base station provides a broader coverage than the 2100 frequency spectrum currently being operated by the majority of the world's 3G GSM carriers, therefore reducing the cost and length of time of rollout.".