Telstra will more than double its 4G coverage area in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth over the next 10 months. The network expansion will see more than 1,000 new 4G/LTE base stations installed by mid 2013. When all new sites are live, Telstra’s 4G service will reach approximately 66 per cent of the Australian population – up from 40 per cent today.
The first new 4G sites have just been launched in Bondi and in the North Shore rail tunnel in Sydney.
“Our 160,000 4G smartphone customers are already telling us that 4G is improving their mobile experience, with research showing they’re more likely to reach for their device over their PC to search the web, social network and bank online — compared with 3G smartphone owners. Our network expansion kicks off in Sydney today where we’re introducing some of the world’s fastest mobile internet speeds to customers visiting iconic Bondi Beach and to underground rail passengers travelling on the North Shore line between Central and North Sydney stations, helping our customers stay connected and entertained on their commute,” said Brendon Riley, Telstra’s Chief Operations Officer.
Some additional notes from Telstra:
- Australians are now using more than 340,000 Telstra 4G mobile broadband devices and more than 160,000 4G smartphones.
- Analysis of Telstra’s customer base shows men have been fastest to embrace 4G smartphones – accounting for 56 per cent of Telstra’s 4G smartphone base vs 44 per cent women.
- Queenslanders lead the pack when it comes to 4G smartphone adoption accounting for 26 per cent of 4G smartphone subscribers, followed by Victorians (accounting for 22 per cent) and customers in NSW (21 per cent).
- Aussies aged 18-29 years old are most enamoured with 4G smartphones representing 24 per cent of Telstra’s of subscribers. The 40-49 age group are the next biggest buyers (23.5 per cent), followed by 30-39 year olds (representing 22 per cent of Telstra’s 4G smartphone base).
- 4G smartphone owners spend on average 7 hours a week surfing the web on their mobiles.
- Half of 4G smartphone owners surveyed say search the internet (e.g. Google) more on their 4G smartphones than they do on a PC.
- Half say they use their 4G smartphone as the primary way to access social networking.
- 28 per cent say they access online banking more on their 4G mobiles than their computer.