Is Telecom 4G coverage better than Vodafone 4G coverage for Auckland?

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Is Telecom 4G coverage better than Vodafone 4G coverage for Auckland?

BlueToothKiwi

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#134053 13-Nov-2013 09:06

Got my iPhone5S upgraded to Vodafone 4G last week and realized I got very little coverage of 4G around where I live (where are my friends who are on Telecom are getting full strength 4G in most of West Auckland.

A quick look at the coverage maps confirm this too.
Telecom on the left, Vodafone on the right

As for speed, the maximum speed I can get on 4G is 26Mbps, where as my friends on Telecom can get 100+ Mbps on the same spot.

Tim M, Auckland
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#931858 13-Nov-2013 09:06

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Coil

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#931871 13-Nov-2013 09:15

I was personally impressed with the area of coverage for most of auckland (From the map) I have not had a hands on test yet. Never had an issue with VF 4G in Takapuna, CBD.

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#931882 13-Nov-2013 09:35

Having moved from Vodafone (4G) to Telecom recently, and from using Telecom 4G since yesterday morning, Telecom's 4G coverage is far more stable and consistent in the areas I live and work in (St Lukes and Penrose).

Haven't done a speed test yet because I don't want to chew through my data so early in the month, but with Vodafone I always found my iPhone dropping back to 3G quite often.

BlueToothKiwi

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#931885 13-Nov-2013 09:38

TimA: ...Never had an issue with VF 4G in Takapuna, CBD.

I can see the coverage seems pretty good up to Milford at Northshore and up to the waters edge on Norrth Western and West Auckland. But it sucks in West Auckland (compared to Telecom). You just need to take a look at the concentration of cell mast's of Telecom vs Vodafone... it is almost like all the houses that has line of site to the water seems to have 4G.

Tim M, Auckland
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Coil

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#931898 13-Nov-2013 09:41

BlueToothKiwi:
TimA: ...Never had an issue with VF 4G in Takapuna, CBD.

I can see the coverage seems pretty good up to Milford at Northshore and up to the waters edge on Norrth Western and West Auckland. But it sucks in West Auckland (compared to Telecom). You just need to take a look at the concentration of cell mast's of Telecom vs Vodafone... it is almost like all the houses that has line of site to the water seems to have 4G.

I am not sure where our sites are located. From that map there are no active ones in WA. If there are sites, There is a reason why they are not on.

(I work in broadband not mobile)

BlueToothKiwi

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#932933 13-Nov-2013 10:39

Vodafone should annotate all active masts that are 4G enabled on their coverage map - it will be useful.

Like Telecom has on their cover map:

telecom mobile coverage maps

Tim M, Auckland
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#932950 13-Nov-2013 10:57

Yup, still a big West Auckland gap on Vodafone, but probably a reason for this.

On the flip side, Vodafone do have a broader range of places with 4G. Try using Telecom 4G in Piha or Warkworth :)

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#932973 13-Nov-2013 11:37

BlueToothKiwi:
As for speed, the maximum speed I can get on 4G is 26Mbps, where as my friends on Telecom can get 100+ Mbps on the same spot.

To be fair, if they're getting 100+ Mbps, they must be using category 4 LTE devices like the Note 3 or the Z1; cat4 = 150 down/50 up & cat3 = 100 down/50 up. iPhones are category 3. :)

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michaelmurfy

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#932975 13-Nov-2013 11:43

BlueToothKiwi: Vodafone should annotate all active masts that are 4G enabled on their coverage map - it will be useful.

Like Telecom has on their cover map:

telecom mobile coverage maps

there's http://gis.geek.nz/infrastructure.html - the markers are "potential" 4G sites based on RSM.

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eXDee

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#932976 13-Nov-2013 11:45

I must say based on their own coverage maps i was very impressed with Telecom's initial estimated footprint vs vodafone's.

On the other hand i'm impressed that vodafone is actually rolling out 4G in smaller areas already rather than restricting it initially to certain regions. Keen to see where telecom is in 6 months time.

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#932979 13-Nov-2013 11:57

eXDee: I must say based on their own coverage maps i was very impressed with Telecom's initial estimated footprint vs vodafone's.

On the other hand i'm impressed that vodafone is actually rolling out 4G in smaller areas already rather than restricting it initially to certain regions. Keen to see where telecom is in 6 months time.

Telecom: *laughs* "WE WILL HAVE ALL OF NZ COVERED BY THEN"

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sbiddle

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#933214 13-Nov-2013 15:21

Both networks are literally enabling sites on a daily basis. Any coverage map is essentially out of date the day it's done.

PaulBrislen

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#933286 13-Nov-2013 16:34

sbiddle: Both networks are literally enabling sites on a daily basis. Any coverage map is essentially out of date the day it's done.

If only there was some way of updating information to lots of people in real time.

An inter-network of computers would be one possible solution.

Also, don't forget that coverage aside, Vodafone will have more 4G customers operating in any given area than Telecom at this point in time. That will settle down as both load up the networks, but currently we're comparing a partially loaded network with an unloaded one.

It will be good to see all three providers footing it toe-to-toe in the 4G market. I'm looking forward to the advanced features coming on stream in the next 18 months.

Satch

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#933791 14-Nov-2013 12:12

I read this:

sbiddle: Both networks are literally enabling sites on a daily basis. Any coverage map is essentially out of date the day it's done.

Then thought this straight away:

PaulBrislen:If only there was some way of updating information to lots of people in real time.

An inter-network of computers would be one possible solution.

Dingbatt

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#933811 14-Nov-2013 12:39

I see that Vodafone has the commuters on the Upper Harbour ferry covered, but Telecom doesn't. Or did they just forget to color the water bit in :-/

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