Telstra ramps up 4G offerings
Telstra is set to throw down a new challenge to its mobile competitors with the launch of services using the 700 MHz spectrum it acquired last year.
The low frequency spectrum will provide better in-building service.
But it also will form a critical component of Telstra’s next generation LTE-A network, which will provide high speed broadband services through aggregating spectrum – in this case in the 700MHz and 1800MHz bands.
Telstra says that the new service – 4G 700 – will offer peak download speeds of 300 Mbps – twice the peak download speed currently achievable.
It plans to make the service available to 90% of the population by the end of January next year with the network extending to cover areas within a three kilometre radius of all capital CBDs and 50 regional locations.
Telstra is already trialling the service and is using the trials to drive take-up of 4G 700 compatible devices. It says it expects to have at least 1 million customers with a 700 MHz ready device by the time the new services are switched on in January.
