New Vodafone user, so far coverage worse than Telecom.

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › New Vodafone user, so far coverage worse than Telecom.

rsheppard

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#23130 19-Jun-2008 11:24

We moved mobile contract from Telecom to Vodafone about 6 months ago.

Our sales reps travel the length of NZ, so far we have had mainly bad feedback from them. Many spots where Telecom was fine are now dropping out on Vodafone. Coverage along the southern motorway towards Akl has been noticably worse, as has coverage within the CBD. The same problems are occuring all over NZ.

We have heard an explanaition that this is due to Vodafone and Telecom recently being forced by the government to sell off a percentage each of thier 2G bandwidth to a third party, and it has caused a lot of re-tuning needed between cells.

We have already talked extensively with Vodafone about this, and they say it's improving all the time. So far that is not the picture we are getting from our sales reps. Anybody else have views or experience on this?

tonyhughes

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#139142 19-Jun-2008 11:30

What?? No.

Its simply different levels of investment in terms of coverage.

You will also find many areas in which Vodafones coverage is present, but not Telecoms.

In general, I find Telecom coverage better for the places I spend most of my time, but when I am travelling around heavy forestry areas, Vodafone usually has the upper hand.

YMMV

rsheppard

3 posts

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#139144 19-Jun-2008 11:34

There are a handfull of exceptions, but the main frustration for us has been that coverage in major citys and built-up areas appears to be worse. We knew there would be some give and take but over-all, coverage has been a lot worse so far.

grant_k

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#139145 19-Jun-2008 11:36

I was in the Coromandel over the weekend near a place called Kuaotunu Beach. Much to my surprise, there was NO Telecom coverage there at all, which was disappointing as I had planned to show my cousin the wonders of Telecom Mobile Broadband. Not even any 1X coverage was present, or any 027 voice service at all. However, Vodafone service was present.

This was a big surprise, as usually I have found that Telecom's coverage is better in rural areas.

It really is a matter of checking the coverage in the areas you need the most before deciding which network to go for.

freitasm

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#139148 19-Jun-2008 12:01

You will notice Telecom coverage is generally better than Vodafone's and there's nothing to do with that silly explanation.

Vodafone is in the process od deploying some new network gear that will improve their coverage. The bad thing? Most of current device won't work with it.

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sbiddle

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#139150 19-Jun-2008 12:25

Both networks have been very slow over the last few years when it's come to significant network expansion. I remember going back probably 5 years now where Vodafone deployed their first site near Eskdale and were going to have continuous coverage across the Napier - Taupo Rd. We are still no closer to that.

Telecom have had the advantage of having exchanges or infrastructure in rural areas which has meant it's easier to rollout sites as they don't have the same issues with provisioning backhaul.

Are you using 3G phones or GSM?

rsheppard

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#139152 19-Jun-2008 12:29

We are using Blackberrys and Nokia e-series'. on 2G. (GSM)

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sbiddle

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#139162 19-Jun-2008 12:57

rsheppard: We are using Blackberrys and Nokia e-series'. on 2G. (GSM)

In Wellington for example 3G coverage is superior to GSM. There are areas than have no GSM coverage but great 3G coverage and also a few spots were you are guaranteed of dropping a GSM call that will work great using 3G.

That obviously doesn't help you however with GSM handsets!

allstarnz

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#139197 19-Jun-2008 15:32

sbiddle:
rsheppard: We are using Blackberrys and Nokia e-series'. on 2G. (GSM)

In Wellington for example 3G coverage is superior to GSM. There are areas than have no GSM coverage but great 3G coverage and also a few spots were you are guaranteed of dropping a GSM call that will work great using 3G.

As a total aside. My parents noticed that with Telstra too. Their NextG modem would often get reception, but not their 2G phones, especially in outback WA and SA. Guess it's due to the need to build 'equal' network to replace the CMDA network.