Possible 'Vodafail Mk II' Knife-twist for Lots of Vodafone 3G Users

[Deactivated] on 30/07/2014 - 08:55
Last edited 30/07/2014 - 08:56

In the wake of the original 'vodafail' debacle, Vodafone took the cheapest option available to it to improve its basic signal reception and distance coverage in their otherwise most vodafaily-affected areas - namely, the rollout of its 850MHz service.

Vodafone has no 700MHz spectrum access (unlike Telstra and Optus) and hence has decided to 're-purpose' their 850MHz spectrum-slice for 4G users.

That will likely happen progressively, and quickly, given the recent 4G 700MHz commercial-approval granted to the other two telcos.

Unless Vodafone very seriously bolsters coverage on its 900MHz band, it's not hard to imagine that many 3G customers on (satisfactory-at-the-moment) mobile broadband and phone plans may find themselves with 'new' problems.

I have a 3G mobile-broadband plan on the Vf network that I maintain as a backup.
No 850MHz-enabled towers near me - that I'm aware of - at least by way of the coverage map I can remember looking at.

So, no skin off my nose as regards Vodafone's current plans.
Just a heads-up. May be different for you.

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Comments

  • ESEMCE on 30/07/2014 - 10:08

    Just so you're aware, they're not killing 850MHz 3G..
    They're planning to halve its allocation from 10MHz to 5MHz.
    So you'll still get 850MHz 3G signal, but speeds may drop until people transition across to 850MHz 4G devices.

    • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2014 - 10:28

      I know that they're not planning a complete slash (after v'fail mkI, they aren't quite that dumb), but I do reckon that the current - the reasonably content portion - of 3G customers in the destined to-be-affected areas, do indeed have a justified reason to fear the consequences.
      Speed-wise, things will already be marginal, as it is, for many.

      Also keep in mind, that - to one degree or another - and in various ways, forcing the transition of customers onto 4G services is in my opinion part of the plans of all the telcos. That, of course, is ultimately all about profit.

      • ESEMCE on 30/07/2014 - 10:43

        Shouldn't be too bad..
        The 4G network has already reduced and will continue to increase it's share of reducing the data burden on the 3G network.
        iPhone 5 and up and Galaxy S4 and up support the 850MHz LTE band so there's a huge proportion of high data using customers that are already or soon will be (when they upgrade to a new phone/contract) on 4G.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/07/2014 - 11:01

          Shouldn't be too bad…

          We'll see…

          Despite the supposed reduced burden in recent times on 3G services, I have not personally noted any positive speed differences on either Optus, or Vf, even allowing for the already huge (beyond the telcos' wildest freakin' dreams) 4G take-up rate.

          The specific 3G network issues I've had - relating to latency on Vodafone and dropouts and other dysfunction on Optus - have both become markedly worse in recent months, which may well speak to general and growing 3G maintenance-neglect, which is another can-of-worms that may get well-wriggly!

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