Why are GSM only fones still being sold here??

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#424368 5-Jan-2011 18:15

tombrownzz: If it's 3g only then sometimes when you go into buildings, instead of falling back to 2g, the phone will not be able to find a network. Where are the 3g only cell sites in Tauranga?

That's because 2G *is not* a disaster recovery network. In theory 2G and 3G networks (on Vodafone) should provide continuous coverage, and overlap a bit.

It's this way because

a) Vodafone had 900 MHz and 2100 MHz use rights and at the time 3G was only available on 2100 MHz.
b) with so many 2G only handsets still in the market, moving their 2G 900 MHz sites to 3G 900 MHz sites would break mobile service to many users

People keep talking about "2G fallback" as it was a backup for 3G. IT IS NOT. Ideally the entire network would be 3G, like Telecom. This reduces maintenance costs, infrastructure costs, etc.

Damager

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#424378 5-Jan-2011 18:42

I'm with the OP and surprised we still sell 2G GSM handsets here. When people ask me about cheap handsets. I tell them to avoid the 2G GSM only handsets.I guess it does give the user cheap pricing options though, but in NZ, we should be encouraging mobile phone users to purchase 3G phones. Telecom do sell the cheap 3G ZTE phones and from my experience, they're not too shabby.

2G handsets are massively popular in 3rd world countries such as the african nations... where there is not going to be a benefit of installing 3G networks. The cost to build them cannot be justified for those countries. The manufacturers sell millions of handsets in these countries so it's still going to be a good cash cow for them for years to come. In NZ though, we should be ditching 2G only phones.

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andrewcnz

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#424390 5-Jan-2011 19:35

tombrownzz:
sbiddle:
tombrownzz:
andrewcnz:
old3eyes: Why do the like sof Vodafone still sell GSM only fones here in NZ considering that they now have a good 3G network in place??.

A friend of my wifes who thru her toys out of the cot when Telecom wouldn't fix her old CDMA fone (don't ask. If you new here you would understand) ported the number to Vodafone and bought a cheap Nokia slide. She has come to stay with us at Tauranga and went to use here fone but no GSM coverage. She's basically screwed until she goes into town and hopefully she can get a signal. Before at work we were given new Galaxy 3 fones and we had old GSM fones I always have to call FWD my work fone to my Telecom mobile so that I could receive calls where our TG house in Pyes Pa. Now with the Galaxy 3 there is no need to as I get 4 bars of 3G.

If Telecom can sell 3G fones for $199 surely Voda and 2D can..

In Tauranga the 3G coverage on Vodafone is far better than the 2G coverage. Mostly due to far more towers with 3G only equipment.

If it's 3g only then sometimes when you go into buildings, instead of falling back to 2g, the phone will not be able to find a network. Where are the 3g only cell sites in Tauranga?

A quick look shows a number of 2100 3G only sites in Tauranga, maybe around 6 or so at a quick glance. Nationwide Vodafone have hundreds of 3G only sites.

A phone can drop back to GSM for a number of reasons, including when there can be a perfectly good 3G signal.

Can you give me a link of the 3g only sites in Tauranga? And so is there no 2g coverage in areas with 3g only sites?

There are a few 3G only sites. Yes there is 2G coverage at all those locations but very weak indoor service. The difference is 1 bar 2G, full strength 3G. Even with the 2100 3G frequency if the site is very close it will blow away a 2G site miles away.

A few site 3G only sites...Welcome Bay, Tauranga South,Tauriko,Judea Industrial ,Greerton central,Maleme Street Industrial,Mt Golf course,Parton Road industrial Papamoa.

johnr

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#424479 5-Jan-2011 23:37

Vodafone NZ did turn on some new GSM sites in 2010 (very few)

Quite a few places across NZ have 3G only cells some places now have 3G 900mhz 3G 2100mhz on the same mast

John

munchkin

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#424535 6-Jan-2011 08:45

SteveON:

Kind of like how their old CDMA network; with the 3 year old phones still on sale.

Telecom don't sell CDMA handsets.
Edit: Mass-market retailers shouldnt, either.

old3eyes

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#424658 6-Jan-2011 14:50

johnr: Vodafone NZ did turn on some new GSM sites in 2010 (very few)

Quite a few places across NZ have 3G only cells some places now have 3G 900mhz 3G 2100mhz on the same mast

John

Hi John.

Quite impressed with your 3G network here in Tauranga..

Regards,

Old3eyes

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#424698 6-Jan-2011 16:33

johnr: Vodafone NZ did turn on some new GSM sites in 2010 (very few)

Quite a few places across NZ have 3G only cells some places now have 3G 900mhz 3G 2100mhz on the same mast

John

Would it be fair to assume the long term plan is to make most 2100mhz sites 900mhz 3G also?

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munchkin

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#424706 6-Jan-2011 16:49

DjShadow:
johnr: Vodafone NZ did turn on some new GSM sites in 2010 (very few)

Quite a few places across NZ have 3G only cells some places now have 3G 900mhz 3G 2100mhz on the same mast

John

Would it be fair to assume the long term plan is to make most 2100mhz sites 900mhz 3G also?

IIRC, yes.

tonyhughes

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#424899 7-Jan-2011 09:26

I bought a family member a 2G handset. Coverage in all the places they need. Voice. SMS. And not a lot else.

Right technology at the right price.

When it is no longer available, will look at 3G options for them.

Vodafone have a good GSM infrastructure, and ultimately, a responsibility to their shareholders to maximise the return on investment they gain from it.

ajobbins

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#424966 7-Jan-2011 13:45

I can't see them turning off GSM any time soon

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ajw

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#425041 7-Jan-2011 19:28

Why vodafonenz are in no hurry to switch off GSM.

Baird also announced that Vodafone will push out the life of its aging GSM network until at least 2020. If there are problems on the 3G network customers default to the 2G network - ensuring, in most cases, that there is no total loss ofservice.

He said that customers value the GSM network as a "fall back position".

"They like the redundancy it offers, so we've made the call to keep the GSM network operational for at least another decade."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/vodafone-nz/news/article.cfm?o_id=233&objectid=10684824

andrewcnz

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#425102 8-Jan-2011 07:34

ajw: Why vodafonenz are in no hurry to switch off GSM.

Baird also announced that Vodafone will push out the life of its aging GSM network until at least 2020. If there are problems on the 3G network customers default to the 2G network - ensuring, in most cases, that there is no total loss ofservice.

He said that customers value the GSM network as a "fall back position".

"They like the redundancy it offers, so we've made the call to keep the GSM network operational for at least another decade."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/vodafone-nz/news/article.cfm?o_id=233&objectid=10684824

And they like the roaming revenue a GSM network offers.

jjnz1

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#425105 8-Jan-2011 08:06

So what some people are saying is that (here in wellington at least) I should be able to stick my Nexus on 3G only and it should work just as well if not better than 2G/3G mode?

But.. I find that in low signal areas my call goes all Matrix sounding on 3G only mode, while in 2G/3G it works fine.

Is that the experience of all 3G network users?, (Telecom included).

sbiddle

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#425111 8-Jan-2011 08:47

jjnz1: So what some people are saying is that (here in wellington at least) I should be able to stick my Nexus on 3G only and it should work just as well if not better than 2G/3G mode?

But.. I find that in low signal areas my call goes all Matrix sounding on 3G only mode, while in 2G/3G it works fine.

Is that the experience of all 3G network users?, (Telecom included).

It depends on your definition of "better".

Inbuilding coverage, particularly in the CBD won't be as good due to the poor inbuilding penetration of 2100MHz.

You however will stop the phone switching between GSM and 3G, many people see this as a problem even though the parameters to set this are defined by the netwok and happen for a reason. Your phone will only drop to GSM during an active PDP context if it loses 3G entirely, however it may actively hand over voice calls from 3G to GSM to preserve 3G network capacity for data.

munchkin

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#425223 8-Jan-2011 15:44

ajw:
... If there are problems on the 3G network ...

*cough*

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