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Networks

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(Mobile Networks in Australia)
m (Mobile Networks in Australia)
 
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Annoyingly, they each use different 3G bands (despite harmoniously sticking with GSM900 and GSM1800 in the past).
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Annoyingly they each use different 3G bands (despite in the past harmoniously sticking with GSM900 and GSM1800). This can make choosing an applicable handset confusing!
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 +
 
 +
----
  
  
 
'''1. Telstra'''
 
'''1. Telstra'''
  
NextG UMTS850 (Australia wide 3G network)  
+
*3G UMTS850 (Australia wide 3G network, aka NextG)  
  
3G UMTS2100 (3GIS Network shared with 3)
+
*3G UMTS2100 (3GIS Network shared with 3)
  
2G GSM900
+
*2G GSM900
  
2G GSM1800
+
*2G GSM1800
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Telstra NextG covers approximately 99% of the Australian population or 2,200,000km²
 +
 
 +
Telstra 2G covers approximately 96% of the Australian population or 600,000km²
 +
 
 +
Telstra 3G covers approximately 56% of the Australian population
 +
 
 +
''Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS850+2100 (note: the only frequency you should ever need on Telstra is UMTS850 as their NextG network is Australia wide)''
  
  
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'''2. Optus'''
 
'''2. Optus'''
  
3G UMTS2100  
+
*3G UMTS2100  
  
3G UMTS900 (rural network)  
+
*3G UMTS900 (rural network)  
  
2G GSM900
+
*2G GSM900
  
2G GSM1800
+
*2G GSM1800
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Optus combined 3G coverage covers approximately 97% of the Australian population or 690,000km²
 +
 
 +
Optus 2G covers approximately 96% of the Australian population or 600,000km²
 +
 
 +
''Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS900+2100''
  
  
 
'''3. Vodafone Hutchison Australia'''
 
'''3. Vodafone Hutchison Australia'''
  
3G UMTS2100
+
*3G UMTS2100
  
3G UMTS900 (rural network)  
+
*3G UMTS900 (rural network)  
  
3G UMTS850 (limited metro network)
+
*3G UMTS850 (limited metro network)
  
2G GSM900
+
*2G GSM900
  
2G GSM1800
+
*2G GSM1800
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Vodafone 2G covers 94.52% of the Australian population
 +
 
 +
Vodafone 3G covers 94% of the Australian population
 +
 
 +
Vodafone 3G UMTS850 is rolling out in limited metropolitan areas to ease congestion caused by iPhone users
 +
 
 +
''Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS850+900+2100 (note: UMTS850+900+2100 capable handsets are few and far between, choose UMTS900+2100 instead)''
  
  
 
'''4. 3 VHA'''
 
'''4. 3 VHA'''
  
3G UMTS2100 (3GIS Network shared with Telstra)  
+
*3G UMTS2100 (3GIS Network shared with Telstra)  
 +
 
 +
*3G UMTS850 (Limited Telstra NextG roaming - additional charges may apply)
 +
 
 +
*2G GSM900 (Vodafone)
 +
 
 +
*2G GSM1800 (Vodafone)
 +
 
 +
*2G GSM900 (Telstra 2G roaming - additional charges may apply)
 +
 
 +
*2G GSM1800 (Telstra 2G roaming - additional charges may apply)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
3 3G covers 56% of the Australian population (i.e. metropolitan areas only)
 +
 
 +
3 2G covers 94.52% of the Australian population
  
3G UMTS850 (Limited Telstra NextG roaming)  
+
3 3G roaming covers 96% of the Australian population (additional charges may apply)
  
2G GSM900 (Vodafone)
+
3 2G roaming covers 96% of the Australian population (additional charges may apply)  
  
2G GSM1800 (Vodafone)  
+
''Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS2100+850 (note: need a UMTS2100 handset as otherwise you'll be constantly roaming)''
  
2G GSM900 (Telstra 2G roaming - additional charges may apply)
 
  
2G GSM1800 (Telstra 2G roaming - additional charges may apply)
+
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Latest revision as of 22:43, 15 September 2010

[edit] Mobile Networks in Australia

There are 3 major mobile network owners in Australia.


1. Telstra

2. Optus

3. Vodafone Hutchison Australia (and 3)


Annoyingly they each use different 3G bands (despite in the past harmoniously sticking with GSM900 and GSM1800). This can make choosing an applicable handset confusing!




1. Telstra

  • 3G UMTS850 (Australia wide 3G network, aka NextG)
  • 3G UMTS2100 (3GIS Network shared with 3)
  • 2G GSM900
  • 2G GSM1800


Telstra NextG covers approximately 99% of the Australian population or 2,200,000km²

Telstra 2G covers approximately 96% of the Australian population or 600,000km²

Telstra 3G covers approximately 56% of the Australian population

Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS850+2100 (note: the only frequency you should ever need on Telstra is UMTS850 as their NextG network is Australia wide)


2. Optus

  • 3G UMTS2100
  • 3G UMTS900 (rural network)
  • 2G GSM900
  • 2G GSM1800


Optus combined 3G coverage covers approximately 97% of the Australian population or 690,000km²

Optus 2G covers approximately 96% of the Australian population or 600,000km²

Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS900+2100


3. Vodafone Hutchison Australia

  • 3G UMTS2100
  • 3G UMTS900 (rural network)
  • 3G UMTS850 (limited metro network)
  • 2G GSM900
  • 2G GSM1800


Vodafone 2G covers 94.52% of the Australian population

Vodafone 3G covers 94% of the Australian population

Vodafone 3G UMTS850 is rolling out in limited metropolitan areas to ease congestion caused by iPhone users

Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS850+900+2100 (note: UMTS850+900+2100 capable handsets are few and far between, choose UMTS900+2100 instead)


4. 3 VHA

  • 3G UMTS2100 (3GIS Network shared with Telstra)
  • 3G UMTS850 (Limited Telstra NextG roaming - additional charges may apply)
  • 2G GSM900 (Vodafone)
  • 2G GSM1800 (Vodafone)
  • 2G GSM900 (Telstra 2G roaming - additional charges may apply)
  • 2G GSM1800 (Telstra 2G roaming - additional charges may apply)


3 3G covers 56% of the Australian population (i.e. metropolitan areas only)

3 2G covers 94.52% of the Australian population

3 3G roaming covers 96% of the Australian population (additional charges may apply)

3 2G roaming covers 96% of the Australian population (additional charges may apply)

Best Handset to buy: GSM900+1800, UMTS2100+850 (note: need a UMTS2100 handset as otherwise you'll be constantly roaming)