Is it worth getting 900MHz 3g?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Is it worth getting 900MHz 3g?

richms

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#33175 1-May-2009 20:52

I was asking at the shop when out about the free phone which is 900 MHz capable. The guy said that it offered 3g in areas outside the main centers that dont have the 2100 3G (fair enough)

he was very evasive when I asked if there was 900MHz 3g around the city, calling it "extended 3g" as if it was not going to offer me a damn thing. At the moment I find 2100 is fine everywhere except for in building coverate (Like outside - full 3g - inside 2m away, select network operator or GSM mode if I have that enabled)

So whats the deal with these handsets and urban coverage. I dont know anyone with one to ask at the moment.

Richard rich.ms

VFNZPaulBrislen

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#211385 1-May-2009 21:03

Hi Rich,

we have plenty of coverage around the country - 97% by the end of the month.

You can find out more at www.vodafone.co.nz/easy which has a section on coverage maps. Click on the PDF for a close up look or just click on the area name to see what coverage is and what it will be.

cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

sbiddle

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#211388 1-May-2009 21:20

900 3G won't duplicate existing 2100 3G coverage except in those areas where they border each other.

In Wellington for example the closest 900 3G is both Vodafone sites over Haywards Hill, neither of these had 2100 3G. Wainuiomata is also getting 900 3G.

The fact there won't be any major rollouts of 900 3G in existing 2100 3G areas means it's not going to make much difference if you don't travel a lot.

I do believe there are going to be areas of new rural coverage that will only have 900 3G and won't have 900 GSM, but I'm not 100% sure on this. Paul might be able to make an official comment on this.

richms

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#211398 1-May-2009 21:42

Paul. if I get a 900MHz 3g phone, and dont travel below pukekohe or above torbay, and have it set to UMTS only will I see coverage when a 2100 only phone loses it? I dont care about 97% of NZ, I just want 100% (or as close as possible to) for where I go to.

What Steve has said is closer to what I have heard from others, but I was hoping that there would be some UMTS in the city in malls etc finally with the new frequancies. If not and GSM fall back is all that there is in those places then IMO that really puts vodafone at a disadvantage to XT.

Since it would only be a small amount to buy out of the term on the free phones when you take into account the 3 free months plan and family then it would make it worth the upgrade now.

Richard rich.ms

ultmobnz

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#211613 2-May-2009 10:35

I have this same problem with a client in south Auckland, except there corporate rep from Vodafone promised 900 UMTS by 31may!! 2100mhz is poor & 900gsm is also, they are shadowed by a hill.

Actually what he offered was what Paul said, 3G in 97% of places not 900umts in 97% of places.

The 900 UMTS extended network is very good where I have seen it, just a shame its not going into cities or existing 2100mhz urban covered areas.

sbiddle

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#211635 2-May-2009 11:37

ultmobnz:
The 900 UMTS extended network is very good where I have seen it, just a shame its not going into cities or existing 2100mhz urban covered areas.

Over time it would be logical to expect Vodafone to start deploying more 900MHz equipment in metropolitan areas.

richms

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#211638 2-May-2009 11:53

So its looking like a big no to it being worth having it on a phone. Mind you with telecom bringing the launch forward then there is some overlap between getting their offers and the free vodafone deal expiring so it defiantly is a wait and see thing for me at the moment. If telecom bring out a good unlocked 850 capable phone then its really a no brainer to get that if the 900 is as worthless as it appears when using a vodafone sim in metropolitan areas at the moment.

Richard rich.ms