Optus announced today that it will be flicking the switch on a new 4G LTE network for its Adelaide users just in time for Christmas. 4G is quickly spreading across Australia, opening up a new world of super-fast wireless broadband for Aussies with speeds that are often in excess of landline broadband connections.
With Telstra and Optus in the process of expanding their up-and-running 4G LTE networks, customers in metropolitan and some regional locations are already experiencing the benefits of crazy fast speeds and seamless browsing and downloading. Being the only two carriers with their own 4G network gives both companies a distinct advantage over rival telco Vodafone - still yet to roll out its billion dollar upgrade – and over the smaller providers (mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs) piggybacking Optus, Telstra or Vodafone coverage (not including the Optus-owned Virgin Mobile, who are offering customers 4G).
Optus held a small but lively event today outlining its network expansion so far in 2012 and some of its plans for 2013. Among the talk of the wireless broadband race and increased 3G reception were also some of the 4G LTE devices that Optus will be offering, or is already offering, on its new 4G infrastructure.
If you're a smartphone user wary of post-paid or not wanting to be locked into a contract, time to get excited: Optus has announced that it will finally be making its shiny new 4G network available to prepaid customers. Optus' Managing Director of Marketing, Michael Smith, acknowledged the huge demand for 4G shown by customers since the network’s launch, stating that the company is ‘excited’ about giving prepaid customers to opportunity to enjoy 4G speeds.
Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 launch devices, the Lumia 820 and flagship Lumia 920, will be hitting Australian shelves come the end of November. Both devices represent a new phase in both Nokia and Microsoft’s mobile development and have been keenly anticipated by tech gurus and Windows Phone enthusiasts alike.
The original blog post regarding the change to Optus' broadband plans stated that the company will no longer offer both Naked DSL and its 'yes' Fusion bundles to new customers. Since the post's publication, Optus have informed us that 'yes' Fusion and Naked DSL will not be scrapped, and both options will still be available to new and existing customers (although there will be pricing changes). Fusion plans, however, are undergoing a name change, and will now be called Home and Broadband Bundles. The rest of the information below is correct at the time of this update.