Vodafone increases its 4G footprint in Tasmania

Vodafone, together with Federal Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash, today announced that it has switched on sites to provide improved 4G services¹ in the Steppes and Ouse areas of Tasmania.

The new site at Steppes will provide expanded 4G mobile coverage between Bothwell and Steppes State Reserve. It is one of the 18 new sites being built in Tasmania by Vodafone as part of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.

Built under round one of the Mobile Black Spot Program, the new site will deliver a total of 94.5 square kilometres of additional 4G mobile coverage to the region. This includes 8.5km of new handheld coverage on major transport routes, improving communications for travellers through regional Tasmania.

In addition, and separate to the Mobile Black Spot Program, Vodafone has switched on a network site in the Central Highlands town of Ouse. This will provide 83.5 square kilometres of additional coverage, including 29.1kilometres of new coverage along major transport routes.

Vodafone is investing $28 million in total on new and upgraded sites in Tasmania between 2013 and the end of 2018. By the end of next year, Vodafone will have built 57 new sites in Tasmania in five years, including 17 new sites this year alone at a cost of around $5 million.

This coverage expansion is the next step in Vodafone’s continued push to give people more mobile services choice across Australia, including in regional and rural areas. Vodafone is committed to investing in regional areas where it makes sense to do so, and is also pushing for regulatory arrangements that will deliver Australia’s best opportunity to drive mobile investment.

“We know how important reliable mobile coverage is to regional Australia, and we’re very proud to be delivering expanded 4G services to people who live, work and travel through and around Steppes and Ouse through the Mobile Black Spot Program and our own standalone investment,” said Vodafone Regional Manager, Kevin Biles

“The Mobile Black Spot Program is a fantastic initiative, and a great example of what industry and government can achieve when they work together for the benefit of regional customers.”

Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash said the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program would deliver 765 mobile phone towers covering some 4,400 coverage black spots across the nation, extending new and upgraded handheld coverage to 86,300 square kilometres of regional and remote Australia.

“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.

Vodafone customers “won’t need to upgrade their smartphone”

In good news for Vodafone customers, all the major smartphones already work on Vodafone’s low-band 4G 850MHz network,¹ including the popular iPhone and Samsung GALAXY models.

“This means that people in the area using Vodafone will see the 4G or LTE symbol on their phone more often,” said Kevin Biles.

Low-band spectrum, such as 850MHz, is well suited to providing high quality indoor mobile coverage as the lower frequency signal penetrates buildings better than higher frequency signals. Low-band spectrum is also well suited to providing coverage over broad areas in regional Australia.

Risk-free network user trial

To encourage people to trial its network, Vodafone is offering new customers a 30 Day Network Satisfaction Guarantee².

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. Customers still pay for any non-standard plan inclusions. The 30 Day Network Satisfaction Guarantee is also available for business customers with up to 9 connections.

In conjunction with the 30 Day Network Satisfaction Guarantee, Vodafone is also offering unlimited data³ to use in Australia for the first month to new customers who sign up to a selected 12 or 24 month phone plan.

Vodafone’s Network Satisfaction Guarantee illustrates Vodafone’s focus on network satisfaction and giving power back to customers.

“Our Network Satisfaction Guarantee is an invitation for Australians who may be feeling unsatisfied with their current provider to experience everything Vodafone has to offer,” said Kevin Biles.

“We continue to invest in our 4G network, which is performing better than ever as a result. Our Network Satisfaction Guarantee shows that we’re focused more than ever on our network performance. Our Network Satisfaction Guarantee lets people try it out for themselves without being locked in.”

Notes to editors

To find out where we have 4G see vodafone.com.au/coverage

Vodafone is rolling out 18 sites in Tasmania under the Mobile Black Spot Program at Apslawn, Bicheno, Bothwell, Brandum, Buckland, Goshen, Hamilton, Little Swanport, Miena, Okehampton Beach, Pyengana, Steppes, Swansea, Takone, Tarraleah, Verona Sands, Wayatinah and Yolla.

Vodafone’s interactive regional mobile investment map includes the locations and timings of the Mobile Black Spot Program sites in Tasmania.

1: Broadband service: You can use Vodafone 4G in our 4G areas. 4G in selected areas in Australia. You get broadband speeds in our 3G areas. Check your device is compatible to the coverage areas you will use. Actual speeds vary due to things like device capability, location & network congestion. See vodafone.com.au/coverage.

2: If you’re a new customer and you’ve signed up to any new plan and you don’t love our network within the first 30 days, you’re welcome to cancel by calling 1300551198 (excludes upgrades and rate plan changes). You will only have to pay for those services you’ve used, that are not included in your plan, up until your number is fully transferred and device and equipment in original packaging with proof of purchase returned to a Vodafone (not dealer) store within 10 days of your claim. Where you have an individual plan, you can make one claim per year per person. Where you have multiple shared plans on your account, you can make one claim in relation to each plan, for up to 10 claims per account, per year per person. Accessories not refunded. This guarantee does not affect any other rights or remedies you may have under consumer law. Full terms and conditions at vodafone.com.au/guarantee.

3: Personal Use Only. Available until 31/07/18 for new customers signing up to a 12 or 24 month plan (excludes Business Shared Infinite, Business Flex, Red Business Shared, Red Business Grow, rate plan changes and upgrades). If you perform a Rate Plan Change during the unlimited data period, your eligibility ceases & additional data fees will apply. Fair Use Policy applies: see www.vodafone.com.au/aboutvodafone/legal/fairusepolicy. For the first billing month any additional data usage within Australia will be free.