Spark rural broadband on 700 MHz

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#1320563 9-Jun-2015 19:27

Spark is probably going under the basis of "LTE-only is better than nothing at all". With VoLTE being trialled it will be less of an issue in the future too.

sbiddle

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#1320564 9-Jun-2015 19:28

An external antenna is the better option and will deliver a better signal, and mean people who couldn't be able to get a signal without it will be able to use a RBI solution. Yes some people could get by without external antennas, however many wouldn't.

Spark don't want an external antenna because it means requiring 3rd parties to do installs.

IMHO Spark's solution has been pretty much left dead in the dust anyway with Vodafone's new LTE RBI plans announced yesterday which has also seen install prices slashed.

quickymart

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#1320581 9-Jun-2015 20:06

sbiddle - link to this pricing?

Behodar

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#1320610 9-Jun-2015 20:22

I'm not sbiddle, but 80 GB for $105, plus $99 install.

sbiddle

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#1320624 9-Jun-2015 20:29

80GB for $100, or $105 with unlimited national calling.

The press release is on the front page under news.

Jase2985

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#1320626 9-Jun-2015 20:30

Behodar: I'm not sbiddle, but 80 GB for $105, plus $99 install.

he means this comment in sbiddles post

sbiddle: Vodafone's new LTE RBI plans announced yesterday which has also seen install prices slashed.

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#1320669 9-Jun-2015 21:08

sbiddle:

80GB for $100, or $105 with unlimited national calling.

The press release is on the front page under news.

I wonder what the wholesale cost for their $5 Voice with unlimited national calling is?

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#1320711 9-Jun-2015 21:39

I must let my cousin know of this :)

Is there any way to see (a list maybe) of when a VF RBI tower is getting upgraded to 4G (if at all)?

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#1320725 9-Jun-2015 21:55

Check RSM. Search for 700-800MHz licenses. If it's in there, then good possibility it is or will be upgraded soon.

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#1320766 9-Jun-2015 23:03

i read the vodafone RBI news and it said

. For just $991 for a standard installation by a professional

is that meant to be $99 not $991

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#1320803 10-Jun-2015 06:37

must be, on the vodafone site it says $99 for standard instillation and $199 for premium on a 24month contract

sbiddle

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#1320808 10-Jun-2015 07:16

kaihoka: i read the vodafone RBI news and it said

. For just $991 for a standard installation by a professional

is that meant to be $99 not $991

The news story on the front page has lost it's formatting. It is $99[1] in the actual press release as the [1] refers to the T&C

grant_k

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#1322356 10-Jun-2015 17:59

sbiddle: An external antenna is the better option and will deliver a better signal, and mean people who couldn't be able to get a signal without it will be able to use a RBI solution. Yes some people could get by without external antennas, however many wouldn't.

Spark don't want an external antenna because it means requiring 3rd parties to do installs.

IMHO Spark's solution has been pretty much left dead in the dust anyway with Vodafone's new LTE RBI plans announced yesterday which has also seen install prices slashed.

This is not correct. I talked to Spark today at Fieldays and they said there is nothing to stop customers plugging in their own external antenna (or two). The new Huawei B315s router has dual antenna ports, the same as the B593 router I have now. Effectively Spark are saying that it's "BYO Antenna" and they can organise an installer if required.

They are also matching Vodafone's 80GB / $105 offer including unlimited national calling, and I'm pretty sure the rep said $95 for 80GB without any phone service. Competition in the RBI space is hotting up which has to be a good thing for consumers.

kaihoka

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#1322407 10-Jun-2015 20:04

Please correct me if I am wrong . My understanding is that other telcos can co locate on RBI towers and can provide govt subsidised fixed wireless broad band. If that is the case would spark be able to upgrade existing non.RBI towers and run RBI on them. They did not get the RBI wireless contract

grant_k

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#1322417 10-Jun-2015 20:22

kaihoka: Please correct me if I am wrong . My understanding is that other telcos can co locate on RBI towers and can provide govt subsidised fixed wireless broad band. If that is the case would spark be able to upgrade existing non.RBI towers and run RBI on them. They did not get the RBI wireless contract

Spark have said recently that they intend to co-locate on new towers built under the RBI contract where they have gaps in their existing coverage. I don't believe that any govt. subsidy is involved in the monthly RBI charges, but the prices that Vodafone can charge are regulated by the ComCom. It is these prices that Spark have to compete with if they want to grab some market share, and it looks as though they have every intention of doing that. More power to them!

So far as running RBI-style services on non-RBI towers, Spark are intending to offer these services anywhere they have 3G or 4G coverage. I was shown these coverage maps at Fieldays today, and they looked the same as what is on their website.

EDIT: Just spotted this on NBR...

Spark says its new service will involve a modem that will be free on a 24-month contract or $249 off-contract. It will be a fixed wireless service; that is aimed at a particular house or business rather than something you can pick up and take with you.

At $0 on a 24 month contract, this is even better than Vodafone's $99 offer, albeit without external aerial. However, for those of us who already have 700MHz capable aerials, it could be the best option.

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