Locals and businesses will soon have access to improved 4G and 5G mobile phone services as Vodafone gets ready to double its network and boost mobile competition to thousands of regional communities across the country.
The network expansion will switch on in early 2025, tripling the number of mobile sites Vodafone has in regional Australia.
This will double the mobile operator’s geographical coverage across Australia from 400,000 square kilometers to more than one million square kilometres and increase its population coverage to 98.4 per cent.
“This network expansion will supercharge Vodafone’s mobile services, providing better coverage, performance and speed for customers where they live, work and play through rural and regional Australia,” Head of Customer Wellbeing Jonathon Kirkham said.
“This will be a game-changer for regional Australia, giving millions of customers living, working and travelling right across the country, access to the award-winning value, and service Vodafone customers in the city enjoy.”
Mr Kirkham said this is great news for Vodafone customers across Queensland where the number of Vodafone’s mobile sites will increase by 34 per cent, resulting in a massive fourfold coverage increase across the state.
In the Wide Bay, an additional 70 mobile sites will be connected, improving the region’s mobile coverage, performance and reliability.
The expansion has been made possible through an innovative network sharing deal between Vodafone and Optus in regional Australia.
Under this arrangement, Vodafone will access 2,444 Optus mobile sites in regional Australia to expand its network reach.
The two telcos will also share their wireless spectrum – the invisible airwaves that make mobile services possible – to deliver improved service quality and speeds for customers.
“The Wide Bay region attracts more than 4 million visitors annually and this network upgrade will help ensure they have access to reliable coverage on their journey and at their destination,” Mr Kirkham said.
The network expansion includes:
- 23 additional mobile sites in the Bundaberg region,
- 11 additional mobile sites in the Hervey Bay region.
- 17 additional sites in the Maryborough region.
Once live in early 2025, customers will have immediate access to 5G where available, and across the country 4G coverage will increase to one million square kilometres.
Kieren Cooney, Vodafone Group Executive, Consumer said this was a turning point for the Australian mobile phone market.
“We’re breaking the mobile duopoly that has limited customer choice in regional Australia for too long,” he said.
“We’ve listened to our customers and are excited to say Vodafone’s coming to town.”
“This will be a game-changer for the millions of Australians in our cities and regions who want great value and mobile coverage in their home and when travelling to all the places we love to visit.”
The new expanded Vodafone regional network will go live in early 2025.
