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freitasm

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#150216 15-Jul-2014 14:12
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Just received:


Telecom announces launch plans for 4G mobile broadband services over 700 MHz

Telecom, soon to be Spark New Zealand, announced today it intends to launch new 4G services in late August that will extend and accelerate the rollout of high speed mobile broadband across New Zealand.

The new services will utilise spectrum in the 700 MHz band that Telecom has acquired in a recent Government auction.

“Telecom now owns the largest block of 700 MHz spectrum. This has given us the confidence to accelerate our plans to roll out 4G services on 700 MHz,” Chief Operating Officer David Havercroft said.

“From late August, our 700 MHz network will be launched and open for commercial traffic in the Waikato region, where we have already been trialling the technology since May. The trial has gone extremely well, with the services performing above expectation and with very high speeds shown.”

Telecom launched 4G services utilising existing spectrum in the 1800 MHz range in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in November last year and has continued to rapidly extend its 4G footprint into many other parts of New Zealand using this spectrum throughout 2014. However the superior performance and economics of the 700 MHz spectrum band will allow for a more extensive and rapid rollout of 4G mobile broadband services in less densely populated and rural areas.

At launch, Telecom will have 11 cell sites on 700 MHz across the Waikato region including central Hamilton, Morrisonville and surrounding areas. The rollout will then extend by Christmas to a number of other initial target areas of high rural demand for mobile broadband services, including some RBI sites.

Although there will be a limited range of devices available in August, by the end of the year Telecom will have a mobile device portfolio of approximately 10 devices that will be 700 MHz compatible. Telecom is working with leading mobile manufacturers on the best portfolio line up for Telecom customers. This will expand into the New Year and as the 700 MHz technology rolls out across the globe.

Mr Havercroft said: “We invested $158 million in the government auction, more than double any of our competitors, to acquire more 700 MHz spectrum than any other operator. This will provide significant benefits to customers in terms of the potential speed and capacity of our mobile broadband services. The more of this 700MHz spectrum an operator has, the faster the speeds it will be capable of offering and the more data it can carry.”

“We have paid a premium to acquire our spectrum at the lower end of the band, which means Telecom devices will be more compatible when roaming in Australia. This will also be a big advantage accessing a wider range of devices during the first few years of 700MHz 4G.

“This demonstrates Telecom’s absolute commitment to being the leader in mobile and data network capability, and provides a strong foundation for Telecom to continue to deliver world class mobile and data services to New Zealanders across the country,” Mr Havercroft commented.

“We’ve now got a leading data network integrating 3G, 4G, WiFi, ADSL, VDSL and Fibre, backed up by a nationwide optical transport network that is underpinning excellent connectivity for customers. With the launch of our 700 MHz spectrum network, we are accelerating our plans to help unleash New Zealand’s data, mobility and digital services future.”

New Zealand is one of the first countries in the world to clear and reallocate a portion of the 700 MHz band (otherwise known as the Digital Dividend spectrum) to support mobile broadband usage. The 700 MHz band is the spectrum freed up by the switchover to digital television.




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knoydart
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  #1089296 15-Jul-2014 14:36
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Telecom have yet to pay and register their 700 MHz management rights, however Vodafone are racing ahead with licences already. These have been registered in the past 48 hours...






Dingbatt
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  #1089303 15-Jul-2014 14:45
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Kind of a strange forum to put this in isn't it Mauricio (however, it is your train set so set it up how you like ;-)).

It's a shame that some of the current crop of flagship phones can't take advantage of this.




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  #1089322 15-Jul-2014 15:06
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I hope the iPhone 6 supports the 700mhz APT band



coffeebaron
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  #1089323 15-Jul-2014 15:07
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Oops, looks like MF needs some forum placement retraining hehe.
My bets are on Vodafone launching first.




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Yabanize
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  #1089381 15-Jul-2014 16:58
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I wonder why they didnt put the 700MHZ gear on the towers when they were adding 4g to them, like have it there but turned off so all they need to do is turn it on when its ready

oxnsox
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  #1089390 15-Jul-2014 17:21
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Yabanize: I wonder why they didnt put the 700MHZ gear on the towers when they were adding 4g to them, like have it there but turned off so all they need to do is turn it on when its ready

$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yabanize
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  #1089392 15-Jul-2014 17:23
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oxnsox:
Yabanize: I wonder why they didnt put the 700MHZ gear on the towers when they were adding 4g to them, like have it there but turned off so all they need to do is turn it on when its ready

$$$$$$$$$$$$


They're still gonna have to pay for it anyway

 
 
 

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eXDee
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  #1089425 15-Jul-2014 17:50
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Launching in Waikato is interesting, they have only just started offering 4G in central Hamilton this month (reports i heard was it was going up and down during testing). Makes sense though given its rural application and large flat area.

10 Devices by end of year is also interesting. One wonders what they are.
-HTC One M8
-Galaxy S5 with Band 28 support (new model? Not sure if the current one supports it)
-Some sort of hotspot?
-Some sort of USB modem?
-Some sort of 4G router?
-Maybe the next iPhone?
-Maybe a LG G3 variant?
-Other unknown devices

Vodafone have completely outgunned Telecom when it comes to 1800mhz coverage and theres no sign of them slowing down, so Vodafone will have the edge there. I reckon Telecom is going to push with the longer range 700mhz coverage instead. Though i can't see Vodafone sitting on their hands here either, looks like they might already be ahead of Telecom if the post above is anything to go by.

ALTRON
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  #1089433 15-Jul-2014 17:59
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The xperia Z2a has band28 ..... I think.

sbiddle
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  #1089437 15-Jul-2014 18:12
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Yabanize: I wonder why they didnt put the 700MHZ gear on the towers when they were adding 4g to them, like have it there but turned off so all they need to do is turn it on when its ready


Who says Telecom haven't been doing this? Their 4G footprint is very small, so one could conclude they probably have been.

I know Vodafone have been doing this since they started deploying their single RAN kit. I know one area that had been problematic was 700Mhz panels. 

LennonNZ
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  #1089439 15-Jul-2014 18:14
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Yea the HTC ONE (m8) I have does LTE 700/900/1800/2100/2600 (B28/B8/B3/B1/B7) - Well that's what the back of the Box of mine says.



coffeebaron
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  #1089486 15-Jul-2014 19:39
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In their press release:
“We have paid a premium to acquire our spectrum at the lower end of the band, which means Telecom devices will be more compatible when roaming in Australia. This will also be a big advantage accessing a wider range of devices during the first few years of 700MHz 4G.

Say what? I thought the APT band was set, so either a device would support the full band or not. Band 28 is band 28 isn't it? There is no band 28a and band 28b that I'm aware of.
So if this is true, then you would also have issues with compatibility between Telecom, Vodafone and 2degrees handsets if you swap networks.




Rural IT and Broadband support.

 

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71 
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coffeebaron
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  #1089504 15-Jul-2014 19:50
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sbiddle:
Yabanize: I wonder why they didnt put the 700MHZ gear on the towers when they were adding 4g to them, like have it there but turned off so all they need to do is turn it on when its ready


Who says Telecom haven't been doing this? Their 4G footprint is very small, so one could conclude they probably have been.

I know Vodafone have been doing this since they started deploying their single RAN kit. I know one area that had been problematic was 700Mhz panels. 

Will be interesting to see how much of Vodafone's network has 700 panels already. I'd say a good portion of new cell sites from last year or two probably have, but whether their 900 panels of existing 900 only sites have been changed with their upgrades is another story.




Rural IT and Broadband support.

 

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71 
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

 

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com


Batman
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  #1089505 15-Jul-2014 19:54
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will anyone do 700MHz 4G in urban areas? (I heard it's only for rural to start with)

sbiddle
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  #1089526 15-Jul-2014 20:17
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joker97: will anyone do 700MHz 4G in urban areas? (I heard it's only for rural to start with)


I think ultimate you will, but there are plenty of engineering challenges to work around.  The goal these days is to build small sites covering small areas, not big sites covering large areas. You want signals to cover shorter distances, not carry further.


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