Vodafone is moving faster than expected to roll out its 3G network across New Zealand with the company now saying it will expand coverage to 97 percent of the country a year ahead of schedule.

With the expansion to now be completed by May 2009, Vodafone says its customers across rural and urban areas will gain access to high speed mobile broadband on the 900Mhz network, with Nokia Siemens Networks providing site solutions and optimisation for the expansion.

Vodafone New Zealand’s CEO, Russell Stanners, says people who have not had access to fixed broadband can now get mobile broadband, as well as popular 3G features such as mobile internet, full-track music downloads and video calling, with the rollout of the 3G network ensuring all New Zealanders could access the best technology, wherever they are.

Stanners said already over half a million customers were using Vodafone’s 3G network and the company had invested nearly NZ$3 billion in New Zealand, continually improving and extending its network through a progression of technology evolutions.

Vodafone has engaged Nokia Siemens Networks to extend its network and Stanners says the Nokia Siemens 900MHz solution allows Vodafone to deliver high speed packet access (HSPA) with the highest efficiency, 65% less sites with 70% lower power consumption per site, which substantially decreases the carbon footprint of the network.