Optus to convert entire 2G network to 3G

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 30 January 2007 10:51

Business IT - Networking

He added: "It creates a new opportunity for us to offer mobile broadband to customers who may not be able to receive fixed broadband."

O'Sullivan said that, outside metropolitan areas, Telstra had a disproportionate share of mobile subscribers "We are convinced that one of the reasons for the launch of Next G was to try and delay inroads into their disproportionately large market share... In our view the decision by Telstra to rollout an 850MHz network using a none global standard was a defensive move."

He said that, nationally Telstra had a 45 percent market share of mobiles but in rural areas it was closer to 55 percent.

However while Optus' planned 3G coverage at 96 percent may be only two percent behind Next G, in terms of area served the new network will be much smaller than Next G. Optus, and the other 2G GSM networks cover around 10 percent of the landmass. Next G is claimed to cover over 20 percent.

Optus has a network sharing arrangement for some of its current 3G network with Vodafone, That relationship will continue but will no apply to the new network.

O'Sullivan said: "We do have a very strong relationship with Vodafone we have demarcated the areas where we will continue to invest with Vodafone - in the metro areas of major capital cities - that will not change and we will continue to invest with Vodafone in those areas to increase capacity and depth of coverage."