Vodafone is expanding its Tasmanian network with six new towers in and around Launceston and the upgrade of a number of existing sites, aimed at providing improved 4G services to its customers in the city.
Late last year, Vodafone switched on two new towers in the Launceston suburbs of Norwood and Ravenswood and says it will switch on another four new towers before the end of the year - Newham and Prospect Hill before June, Launceston North before August, and Youngtown by the end of the year.
According to the telco, when completed, the new towers will deliver a total of 428 square kilometres of additional mobile coverage.
The investments in Launceston by Vodafone are in addition to upgrades in the past 12 months to four existing towers in the city.
{loadposition peter}Vodafone chief technology officer Kevin Millroy said Vodafone continues to improve services for customers in the region through direct investment as well as participation in the Federal Government’s mobile black spot programme.
“Vodafone is investing heavily and working hard to improve and expand its services in and around Launceston, as it is around the whole country.
“Vodafone is committed to expanding its network to help fuel economic growth and jobs, and enable customers to quickly access the applications, services and content that matters most to them.
“More than ever before, customers look to mobile communications to stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues. Customers in Launceston will now benefit from enhanced network coverage and performance.”
Under round one of the Government’s mobile black spot programme, Vodafone says it will also light up a new tower next month in Buckland in Tasmania that will bring 136 square kilometres of additional mobile coverage, including to 84 homes in the region and along the Tasman Highway towards Okehampton Beach and Little Swanport, Buckland Road and Nugent Road in Buckland.
Millroy says the mobile coverage of the new tower is also expected to partially reach surrounding forest reserves including Wielangta and Mount Morrison.
Last year, Vodafone expanded its mobile network when it switched on sites in Bothwell and Bicheno as part of the Mobile Black Spot Programme and the telco is building 19 sites in Tasmania under rounds one and two of the programme.
Vodafone says that by the end of 2017, its four-year network investment in Tasmania will be about $28 million, including more than $1 million for towers planned for Myrtle Bank, Scottsdale, Campania, and Ouse.
{loadposition peter}Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash said round one of the Mobile Black Spot Programme would deliver 499 mobile phone towers covering some 3,000 coverage black spots across the country, extending coverage to 26,000 homes and businesses across 165,000 square kilometres.
“I aim to help build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and good telecommunications is a big part of that,” Minister Nash said.
“Being a farmer from central NSW myself, I know how important mobile coverage is.”
Millroy says all the major smartphones already work on Vodafone’s low-band 4G 850MHz network, including iPhone and Samsung GALAXY models.
“What it means for customers is that they’ll notice the 4G or LTE symbol on their phone more often.” Millroy says.
As part of its drive to expand its network and entice customers Vodafone is offering new customers a money-back 30 Day Network Satisfaction.
Under the 30 Day Network Satisfaction Guarantee, if a new postpaid customer is not satisfied with Vodafone’s network within the first 30 days, they can cancel their contract, “no questions asked”. Vodafone will also refund any monthly access fees and monthly handset instalments paid by the customer as long as the equipment and device are returned to a Vodafone store within 10 days of making the claim. The satisfaction guarantee is also available for business customers with up to 9 connections.