SYDNEY: Mobile coverage for Canberrans has had another boost with both major telcommunication companies now offering a higher speed 4G service.
Telstra switched on its 4GX service on the 700MHz spectrum this week about a month after rival Optus received the OK for early access to the spectrum from the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
The 700MHz spectrum was previously used for analogue TV broadcasts, but from this month was made available nationally for telcos to offer high speed and stronger 4G mobile services.
More than 50 Canberra suburbs, joining around 600 towns and suburbs, can now access the 4GX service as part of the largest activation across Australia, Telstra Country Wide regional general manager Chris Taylor said.
Only customers with compatible devices including the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy 5 will be able to pick up the signal which offers faster data speeds and improved connectivity.
But Mr Taylor said the switch-on had wider network benefits for Telstra 4G customers without devices compatible with the 700MHz service as it freed up space for 4G services on other spectrums to help manage the ever growing demand for data.
“We are really excited to be extending the 4GX services throughout Canberra as customers are relying on mobile connectivity more than ever,” Mr Taylor said.
The 700MHz spectrum offers mobile download speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) for category six devices.
Mr Taylor said the wide scale switch-on of 4GX comes as the use of 4G overtakes the demand for 3G.
“With the rise of connected devices there is an ongoing and insatiable demand for data across our networks, with 4G services now carrying the bulk of this traffic,” Mr Taylor said.
“In order to manage this demand, we are always expanding and upgrading our network.”
Canberra suburbs covered by 4GX include the CBD, Acton, Ainslie, Banks, Barton, Belconnen, Bonython, Braddon, Bruce, Campbell, Capital Hill, Charnwood, Chisholm, Deakin, Dickson, Downer, Dunlop, Evatt, Florey, Flynn, Forrest, Fraser, Fyshwick, Giralang, Gordon, Gowrie, Greenway, Griffith, Hackett, Hall, Isabella Plains, Kingston, Kinlyside, Latham, Lawson, Lyneham, McKellar, Melba, Monash, Narrabundah, O’Connor, Page, Parkes, Pialligo, Red Hill, Reid, Richardson, Russell, Scullin, Spence, Symonston, Turner, Watson amd Yarralumla.
