Vodafone will be switching on its first 5G sites within a matter of weeks.
In a release today, Vodafone CEO Iñaki Berroeta said that the approval of the TPG merger prompted the provider to move forward with the technology.
The first area to benefit will be Parramatta in the western suburbs of New South Wales. 650 additional sites are already in progress, with thousands to come in the next few years.
Vodafone provided a tertiary map indicating the expected 5G coverage areas.
“We are very excited to be pushing ahead with our plans for 2020 by delivering our first 5G sites within weeks, with the initial rollout to continue throughout the year,” Berroeta said.
Berroeta cited the Vodafone-TPG merger, that was approved by the Federal Court just last week, which is tipped to increase competition across the Australian Telecommunications sector.
A viable 5G network does seem to be the next course of action, with Vodafone being the last of the major telcos to jump on the bandwagon. Telstra and Optus have already begun their roll out, with some mobile customers already having access, albeit limited.
Vodafone customers with compatible devices will enjoy the network as soon as it’s switched on, at no extra cost. This decision sets the provider apart from its competitors, with Telstra set to charge $15 more per month for customers who want to opt in to the high-speed network, if they're not on one of its top two plans. Optus is not currently charging for access to its 5G network, but hasn’t ruled out the possibility that it will in the future.
The new infrastructure comes on the heels of the Samsung Galaxy S20 release, boasting 5G connectivity options on every handset. Vodafone is stocking the full range of S20 5G models, which did seem to indicate its 5G network wouldn't be too far away.
According to the newest phones hitting the market, 5G handsets are set to be the new norm but not everyone in the sector thinks 5G is worth the hype. Boost Mobile founder Peter Adderton doesn’t see the benefit for consumers as of yet, and despite widespread belief that the network could take over the NBN - Telstra is skeptical.
Whether 5G lives up to expectations is yet to be seen, but at least Vodafone customers will soon be able to find out for themselves.
Anula Wiwatowska
Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram
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