David Neiger10 September 2008, 10:58 PM
Optus's Next G-challenger network sounds exciting, but the telco looks set to force customers into new contracts if they want to be able to use it.
Optus announced back in May it is rolling out expanded 3G network coverage to reach 98% of the population or approximately 1 million square kilometres. What is not highlighted however, is that most of Optus’s existing customers will not benefit from the expanded network unless they are prepared to either purchase new devices outright or renegotiate their contracts.
Unlike Telstra, which advised customers clearly that they would need new devices when it was rolling out its completely new 850MHz 3G network, Optus is mixing and matching 2,100MHz with 900MHz, whilst still calling it an expansion.
As a consumer, seeing Optus' frequent claims about expanding coverage, you might think that you can use Optus’s expanded network, but you'll soon discover that very few of the mobiles sold by Optus over the last few months are able to work with 900MHz UMTS (3G). Whilst virtually all 3G devices can use the 900MHz band, this is limited to GSM and GPRS which means that your 3G phone will drop back to Optus' 2G network at dial-up speed when outside of the 2,100MHz 3G coverage zones.
This is particularly the case for the iPhone sold through Optus, which Optus launched with a press release trumpeting expanded future network coverage — but failed to mention that iPhone 3G owners will never be able to access it.
To add to the confusion, Optus technical staff are not even sure where the new 900MHz network is being rolled out. APC made several calls to the Optus Wireless Broadband technical support team at various times and was assured by the technicians that the 900MHz UTMS signal is available in metropolitan areas. That would be a good thing given that the 2,100MHz signal is notoriously bad at penetrating buildings with some subscribers reporting on broadband community website Whirlpool that they have to resort to using their Optus Wireless Broadband on balconies to get a reasonable signal.
Unfortunately this does not appear to be case as another technician at Optus Wireless Broadband technical support advised that the 900MHz UTMS is only being used in regional areas. Optus coverage maps seem to show green 900MHz 3G coverage only outside of major centres and our own limited tests with a 900MHz 3G compatible device failed to find a signal around parts of metropolitan Melbourne.
Optus would not answer our specific question as to where the 900MHz coverage areas were simply referring us to a vague “As part of that [network] expansion Optus is using a combination of 2100 MHz and 900 MHz frequencies.”
So what about current Optus subscribers who want to take advantage of the expanded network? If you have one of the new USB wireless "memory-key" form factor modems, or the Nokia 6121, E66, E71 6210 and N3120 classic you will be able to use 3G in the expanded network coverage areas.
But if you don’t have a compatible device, Optus advises that “some customers may choose to upgrade as their contracts end while others choose to take advantage of the enhanced features and coverage by upgrading their contracts immediately” which to us sounds like too tough luck. Even if you are 'renting' your modem for a monthly fee, don’t expect a free upgrade unless you sign on to a new contract.
It may be some consolation to know that “if a customer moves to a limited coverage area, Optus will offer any available alternative arrangements” but for the majority of Optus customers who have recently purchased a 3G device, iPhone or are using Optus Wireless Broadband with an older Huawei “soap on a rope” or Inzone modem, the network expansion will have no benefit at all.