Telecom New Zealand completes CDMA EVDO Rev A rollout

Telecom's upgrade to its nationwide Mobile Broadband network with CDMA EVDO Rev A technology is now complete.

The last mobile site to be upgraded was at the remote Pihanga Trig, near Turangi, with technicians flying to the site by helicopter. The site provides Mobile Broadband coverage on the Desert Road, State Highway One.

Telecom General Manager of Business Products, Martin Butler says the $18.5 million rollout - which began in Auckland in December last year - has been very successful.

"Mobile Broadband is now available to around 80 percent of the places where New Zealanders live and work and is being increasingly used outside the main urban centres," he said.

Mobile Broadband can be used on some mobile phones, and by laptops or notebook computers using a Mobile Broadband data device.

The technology enables Telecom customers to surf the Internet, download and upload larges files, and to check their emails and online calendars.

Telecom's upgraded Mobile Broadband cell sites on average enable download speeds of 800 kilobits per second and upload speeds of 300Kbps.

"We're hearing many excellent stories about how the technology has changed the way people access the Internet - for the better. Our enhanced service is delivering faster mobile data services to more places than ever so more people can experience the benefits," he said.

Telecom has three Mobile Broadband data devices, including a USB modem, a PCMCIA data card and an express card, so customers can use the device which best suits their needs.