With the looming wider launch of the 700MHz 4G network coming in January, Optus is taking full advantage of an additional early access commercial licence from the ACMA, which allows them to test their 4G 700MHz network. They’ve announced an expansion of their 4G services across Darwin today.
Optus first introduced their 4G network to Darwin in July and the 4G network has now gone live across University, Airport, and beyond Darwin’s central business district into the suburbs. The 4G expansion now covers Fannie Bay, Ludmilla, Coconut Grove, Nightcliff, Millner, Winnellie, Moil, Knuckey Lagoon, as well as Charles Darwin University and Darwin International Airport.
The rollout is part of the larger push by Optus to expand their 4G network to over 200 regional and holiday destinations, with a goal to cover 90% of the Australian population by April 2015. This new 4G expansion is also a boon for Optus 3G customers, with 4G now taking up some of the load and freeing up network bandwidth for those customers. But if 3G customers want to access the 4G network, they can certainly talk to Optus about new plans and a new 4G compatible handset, which include the Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G3, Sony Xperia Z3 and HTC One (M8).
If you’re living in Darwin and want to check out where the Optus 4G network is live, you can jump on to the Optus Coverage checker and see where the network is live.
Can’t come soon enough. I’ve noticed things are getting more congested lately. I used to regularly get 5 – 10+ Mb speed tests in Palmerston. And well this is what I got now http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3879602383 It works but my level of patience varies.
Just noticed, it’s not just Darwin – they have turned on a number of new transmitters recently across the rest of the country (my guess is those that used to be in the “3months” window.
Now have 4G at home.
Bug report, Dan. The Optus Coverage Checker link is pointing to a non-existent Ausdroid address.