Vodafone Australia Prepares to Switch on National 3G Network

Vodafone Australia has announced it is in the final stages of testing and tuning its high speed 3G network in major regional centres, which will go live during the first week in May 2009.

The upgrade expands 3G services to Vodafone customers in areas including Albury- Wodonga, Ballarat, Ballina, Bunbury, Byron Bay, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Kiama, Lismore, Mackay, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Townsville, Wollongong, Bowral, Nowra and Wagga Wagga.

Customers in all other existing Vodafone 2G coverage areas throughout Australia are planned to experience Vodafone 3G services by 31 August 2009.

Andy Reeves, Chief Technology Officer at Vodafone Australia: "It's always a race against time to bring major upgrades to market as soon as possible, but it's even more important to get it right first time and minimise disruptions to normal services,"

"We've managed the project in a pragmatic way to ensure quality and continuity of coverage for our customers throughout the upgrade project."

Vodafone confirmed that, following the upgrade in May, its 3G coverage will reach 80 per cent of the Australian population. When the second stage of the upgrade is completed, Vodafone 3G coverage will reach over 94 per cent of the Australian population.

Posted to the site on 26th March 2009