I must have slept through the Vodafone announcement that as part of their ongoing 3G upgrade, which should finish by the end of this month and brings 3G service to 94 per cent of the population, they were also boosting their 2G network. But boosting it they are!
Tipsters Brendan and Ryan both alerted me to the fact that their phones (an iPhone and a Blackberry), when roaming on Voda’s 2G network, were telling them they were on EDGE rather than GPRS speeds. When I contacted Vodafone for confirmation, they gave me this response:
“Vodafone is currently upgrading its 3G network to reach areas covering 94 per cent of the Australian population, due for completion by Monday, 31 August 2009.
Vodafone’s regional 2G network will remain active and will switch from GPRS to EDGE technology, as part of the upgrade.”
So not only do Voda customers get a free boost to a 3G network, but when they roam onto Voda’s 2G network, they’ll get EDGE data speeds? I think I’ve found my next Aussie Telco…
[Thanks Brandon and Ryan!]
Chad
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 5:23 PMYay!
Ryan Malonda
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 5:23 PMYAY! I wasnt sure if you (Nick B.) got my email!
Vic
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 5:28 PMMy first generation iPhone is smiling in anticipation!
matt
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 6:10 PMcool. i’m a mobile noob, does this mean you will get at least edge anywhere you can get signal?
Andrew Swan
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 7:10 PMI noticed that. Would’ve happened about 2 weeks ago at least.
Jed Stevens
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 7:55 PMCome on Optus you can do EDGE too and while your at it you should upgrade your damn 3G network, I came from Telstra and sure do notice the difference.
Winophile
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 8:33 PMThis is huge news that should have been shouted from the roof tops. Now probably the best value telco in oz.
Chris
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 8:58 PMHaven’t Telstra had significant EDGE coverage for years?
And let’s not forget that Vodafone’s regional coverage is WELL below par; at the very least in Victoria. My breif stint with Voda pretty much guaranteed that in any regional area I would either have zero coverage, or be on a tower two towns over… with no ability to make a call.
Stephen Gore
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 10:04 AMGo Vodafone! Pumped.
Now if only we could get some serious LTE action here
Bennish
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 10:34 AMHurry up and do this optus, so your virgin mobile and other subsidiary customers can enjoy edge!!!!
daimo
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 1:49 PMI noticed this on the weekend in Sunny Seymour – Voda rocks!
James
Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 12:32 PMWould the lack of service on my blackberry on vodafone in Perth yesterday, 2nd Sept, be due to this upgrade? I thought my phone was the problem but today saw I was connected to EDGE for the first time. Hadnt heard of it so I googled it and came across this article.