Vodafone Australia Plans National Mobile Broadband Network

SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Vodafone Group's Australian unit said Tuesday it plans to roll out a national high-speed mobile broadband network that will provide coverage to 95% of Australia's population by the end of 2008.

In a statement, Vodafone Australia said it plans a significant mobile broadband network expansion and upgrade to provide high-speed packet access, or HSPA, to customers, enabling faster download and upload speeds.

The upgrade will also improve network coverage and capacity for standard 2G and 3G voice calls, it said.

Vodafone Australia plans to complete its hardware and software vendor selection process early in 2008 and has already commenced work on its core network in preparation for the upgrade. Vodafone will maintain normal mobile network services during the rollout period.

It said it will continue its 3G joint-venture with Optus in major metropolitan areas. However, Vodafone Australia will undertake its own upgrade to its 900 MHz and 2100 MHz mobile network in all other parts of the country.

-By Lyndal McFarland, Dow Jones Newswires; 61-2-8235-2957; lyndal.mcfarland@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Posted to the site on 11th December 2007