Telstra increases 4G coverage

Media Release, 28 August 2012

Telstra will more than double its 4G coverage area in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth extending the reach of Australia’s only national 4G service to two-thirds of the population.

The investment will see ultra-fast mobile coverage spread across all capital cities over the next 10 months – with the first new 4G sites launching today in Bondi and in the North Shore rail tunnel in Sydney.

Brendon Riley, Telstra’s Chief Operations Officer, said the expansion would help meet the accelerating demand for ultra-fast fourth generation smartphones and mobile broadband devices among Australians.

“Since launching the nation’s first 4G LTE service last September, our customers have embraced 4G technology and today they’re using more than half a million 4G devices to browse the web faster, stream music and video and enjoy rich internet content traditionally reserved for PCs,” Mr Riley said.

“Our 160,000 4G smartphone customers are already telling us that 4G is improving their mobile experience, with research showing they’re more likely to reach for their device over their PC to search the web, social network and bank online -- compared with 3G smartphone owners.

“Our network expansion kicks off in Sydney today where we’re introducing some of the world’s fastest mobile internet speeds to customers visiting iconic Bondi Beach and to underground rail passengers travelling on the North Shore line between Central and North Sydney stations, helping our customers stay connected and entertained on their commute.”

Telstra currently offers 4G coverage in more than 100 metropolitan and regional locations across the nation including all capital CBDs. The network expansion will see more than 1,000 new 4G/LTE base stations installed by mid 2013. When all new sites are live, Telstra’s 4G service will reach approximately 66 per cent of the Australian population – up from 40 per cent today.

“Once the network expansion is complete Telstra 4G will cover even more of Australia’s highest population centres. For instance, coverage will stretch out in a 10-15 kilometre radius from the Sydney GPO and a 15-20 kilometre radius from the Melbourne GPO,” Mr Riley said.

“Our investment is geared towards sustaining our network reach and performance for all our existing and potential new customers – particularly anyone looking to trade up to a 4G device.”

Australians rush to the 4G fast lane

  • Australians are now using more than 340,000 Telstra 4G mobile broadband devices and more than 160,000 4G smartphones to connect to the people and content they love when on the move.
  • Analysis of Telstra’s customer base shows men have been fastest to embrace 4G smartphones – accounting for 56 per cent of Telstra’s 4G smartphone base vs 44 per cent women. Queenslanders lead the pack when it comes to 4G smartphone adoption accounting for 26 per cent of 4G smartphone subscribers, followed by Victorians (accounting for 22 per cent) and customers in NSW (21 per cent).
  • Aussies aged 18-29 years old are most enamoured with 4G smartphones representing 24 per cent of Telstra’s of subscribers. The 40-49 age group are the next biggest buyers (23.5 per cent), followed by 30-39 year olds (representing 22 per cent of Telstra’s 4G smartphone base).             
  • According to new research conducted for Telstra* 4G smartphone owners spend more time surfing the web on their mobiles and are more likely than 3G smartphone owners to choose the smartphone screen over the PC screen.
  • The research shows 4G smartphone owners spend on average 7 hours a week surfing the web on their mobiles. Half of 4G smartphone owners surveyed say search the internet (e.g. Google) more on their 4G smartphones than they do on a PC. Half say they use their 4G smartphone as the primary way to access social networking. Meanwhile 28, per cent say they access online banking more on their 4G mobiles than their computer.

Coverage expansion state-by-state

  • Brisbane: Plan to more than double the coverage to stretch from Brisbane Airport in the East to Indooroopilly in the West and from Coopers Plains in the South to Chermside in the North.
  • Gold Coast: New planned coverage stretching from Surfers Paradise in the East to Nerang in the West and from Tugun in the South to Hope Island in the North.
  • Sydney: Plan to more than double the coverage to stretches from Manly in the East to Greystanes in the West and from Kogarah in the South to Hornsby in the North.
  • Canberra: Planned coverage from Queanbeyan in the East to Duffy in the West and from Farrer in the South to Moncrieff in the North.
  • Melbourne: Plan to more than double the coverage to stretch from Ringwood in the East to Werribee in the West and from Bentleigh in the South to Epping in the North.
  • Adelaide: Plan to more than double the coverage to stretch from Magill in the East to Henley Beach in the West and from Torrens Park in the South to Broadview in the North.
  • Perth: Plan to more than double the coverage, to stretch from Maida Vale in the East to Fremantle in the West and from Willetton in the South to Dianella in the North.

* About the Research: This research was conducted by Nielsen on behalf of Telstra on a representative sample of 2,119 Australians aged over 16 from across Australia.