World first HSPA+ Dual Channel on a live network
Filed under: customers, HSPA+, innovation, mobile internet, mobile phone, networks, Next G™, technology
It may not seem like it at first glance but the global telecommunications industry is one of the most competitive in the world. Just as athletes the world over strive to be the fastest, Telstra strives to be a technology leader and we are in the habit of succeeding.
Just last week we proudly took the next step towards making HSPA+ Dual Channel technology a commercial reality on our Next G™ network. With the network already enabled with this speed and capacity boosting technology, we carried out the world’s first over-the-air testing on a live commercial network.
The test used an advanced pre-production model of a USB mobile broadband device that is Dual Channel-enabled. Development of the commercial version of this device is nearing its final stages and we expect the modems to hit shelves later this year.
Last week’s test in a good signal environment under controlled conditions averaged download speeds of about 22Mbps, approximately double those experienced under the same conditions at the same location with a standard BigPond Elite HSPA+ rated device.
This live network test was important for more than just being the first in the world. It served to validate our expectations of the upgraded technology that we should see approximately double existing HSPA+ customer down load speeds in selected parts of the network when we bring this product to market. Typical user down load speeds will be announced closer to the launch.
HSPA continues to be the dominant mobile broadband technology in the global industry and Telstra is playing a role in the development of the technology that cannot be underestimated. For example just this week AT&T, one of the largest operators in the United States, announced new plans to extensively upgrade its network with HSPA+ technology in order to give their customers a better mobile broadband experience.
Alongside Ericsson, our network partner; Qualcomm, who design and build our HSPA+ chipsets; and Sierra Wireless, manufacturers of the devices, we have a formidable team championing the technology in Australia for the rest of the world to follow. This is certainly one of the most rewarding parts of my job as Chief Operations Officer at Telstra.
Finally, we’ll get the 21Mbit/s speed Sol and Phil kept bragging about (so misleadingly)…!
Look forward to testing the USB device when it’s available!
Sounds impressive, but what will it allow me to do. This seems to be typical activity in Telstra that when we launch something we dive in to technical speak and brag about speed and bits; but how will it make my life easier, and what will I be able to do with https://exchange.telstra.com.au/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?comment_status=moderated#comments-formit?
This would be a great product, no doubt.
Business customers and spoiled rich kids will love it. Any one that could afford it will love it.
If we only had as great Customer Service as this product, our competition will not be able take our customers at will.\
Next G is already better and faster than anything (wireless) else out there but when Customers call for help, this where we fail.
cheers
Nick: I know people have a lot of concerns about Telstra customer service, but I would have to say it is FAR better than Optus, which was the last network I was on. Optus started out well when they were formed, with a single number to call for all customer service enquiries and so on, but nowadays its call centres are a gordian knot of people passing the buck, transferring the call between department to department and people who can’t access your account because it’s in a different billing system. Not to mention loooooooooong hold times (which doesn’t seem to be a problem with Telstra Mobile.)
@ Dan Warne:
Sorry to burst your bubble, but as I type this I have been on the phone for over 2 hours, disconnected once and passed through over 15 people in the Philippines and India. After having been on the call for over 50 minutes, I was routed to a gentleman in Australia who then stated he would call back immediately because the line was quite bad – guess what? He didn’t. So I started the process all over again with Level 1 technicians, explaining to them what I needed because not one of them so far even understands what it is that I am after (a global IP address for a mobile broadband device).
So far the problem has been:
1. Long wait times – 2 hours and counting on this session.
2. Lack of understanding of basic networking terminology – Global IP?
3. Lack of understanding where to transfer to resolve the issue. I have been transferred to the following numbers back and forth so many times I have (literally) lost count:
A: 125 111
B: 1800 637 752
C: 132 200
Each time I am reassured that “I can definately help”. So far we are at close to 20:0, with the reality being I can’t help.
The reason for the frustration is that an ADSL line that we have ordered will not be available for some weeks (present count is around 6) because the cabling for a new and planned development is not sufficient and needs to be added-to (being a project management professional in a related industry, I cannot even start to express my opinion of the project management skill sets required to not plan something as simple as adequate cabling and the added cost to you as a result….). On the advice of the Customer Specialist handling our account I have procured a mobile prepaid dongle.
UPDATE: Just spoke to a gentleman in Queensland!. He has given me in 90 seconds all the information I needed, but now find that the IP address is a NAT address – and that the prepaid network cannot be linked to telstra.extranet. The process only took 2 hours…..
So please Dan, explain to me how the service you describe as being so wonderfully efficient actually is?
@ Dan Warne
To clarify, the mobile prepaid dongle wa bought as the interim solution to the ADSL line which is running so late. Without the global IP address (static or dynamic) I am unable to access critical files resident on my home file drive from remote locations. Without a global IP address I am simply unable to access the files. And of course without the physical lines in place, ADSL is not able to be connected.
Obvious lack of basic training of at least standard network terminology is one of the most glaring failures in this experience. That training and a support routing map would go a long way to reducing the frustration I experienced as it is impossible to believe that I am the only person who is looking for this help (actually a quick look in the whirlpool forums shows there are others).
In cases such as mine where your technical services are causing the difficulty, a clear directive to resolve by either providing equipment or technical work-around should be part of your operating procedures with documented resolution paths but that does not seem to be the case.
Instead of an army of people to answer the phone and transfer customers around the world hoping to find a solution, a small team of people who actually resolve issues would go a long way to helping your customer support image and help you in your public justification of any percieved pricing issues.
Sorry for being so negative but this has been a pretty bad experience. I will update this again once I have received a call back from our Customer Specialist handling the original work order as I am hoping he has the authority to do something to allow me to work.
Hi Mark, Let me know if you need any further assistance. Brendan
Hi Brendan,
Thank you for your offer of assistance. Please let me explain:
+ We are waiting for additional capacity to be pulled into our townhouse development in order to be able to connect an ADSL line to out unit. It appears that the correct volume of cable was not installed at the beginning of the project and now there is not enough capacity to service all units in the development.
+ The telephone line will not be pulled until at least mid April and then up to 10 working days for ADSL to be completed.
+ Once that is connected, I will set up router with appropriate DDNS provider to enable me to connect to the home file drive and access files as needed.
+ Until the DSL line is connected, the Telstra policy is to reimburse for the cost of a pre-paid mobile broadband device – I believe that the reimbursement only extends to the device and not the data used. I have purchased a Telstra Elite unit and also purchased an ADSL VPN router with 3G (USB) compatibility. The connection out to the internet from the router works fine. Apparently, Telstra pre-paid mobile devices are issued a NAT IP address which is not visible from the internet, thus making it impossible for me to VPN into my file drive.
+ As an interim solution, I need a device or routing that provides me with a global IP address (static or dynamic – either is fine) so that I can set up a connection to the file drive from the internet.
+ Having already spent more than I would normally on a router to allow for the 3G capability I do not wish to have to incur further cost to resolve this, and would like to see it resolved immediately.
The reality is that the connection will probably be extremely slow from the outside but slow is far better than not at all as is the case at the moment. Had the “Ultimate Mobile Device” at 42Mbps been available in prepaid I would have purchased that unit but that is not the case at this time as far as I am aware.
Thank you again for your offer of assistance. Please advise how I achieve the result needed.
Mark
Hi Mark. I hope the solution we came up with for you in the meantime is helpful. Let me know how you go. Brendan.
Hi Brendan,
Still waiting for the solution to arrive, hopefully today. Will let you know.
Thanks,
Mark
Hi Mark, I’ve checked for you and it’s in the mail today. Brendan.
Hi Brendan,
The solution worked fine, thank you for your assistance. You have restored my faith in there being a focus on finding solutions rather than excuses.
Thanks again.
As long as this is suitably priced with a decent amount of data, I could stop using NDSL or PSTN/ADSL2+ completely.
from experience though, Telstra’s pricing hasn’t really been that competitive… I don’t need fancy T-life stores, or annoying ads with a VW Kombi driving around… most people would just prefer a value for money plan.
Its good to see that Telstra has finally come to the game with its new Cap and Ultimate II plans (which are making me look at telstra more and more as an alternative to Optus), but whatabout the rest of the pricing (PSTN $25/month rental, ridiculous NextG wireless broadband, etc.)
How much is a customer willing to pay for a telstra Product
Alright the rich kid and those idiots yuppies – although not all australians get paid right or are rich
Telstra is very expensive for the products and you dont get real customer service – Compare apple with apple – network is network and service to service – Optus and Vodafone are become like Telstra with service and a ten times cheaper
Telstra has IP network (white elephant) although customers can not get the real exp of using it
Telstra are rip offs – ONLY 12GB on the Bigpond plans
Telstra like teasing their customers – and milking them to the bone
Does Telstra plan to introduce flat packages or “GB limited” packages over HSDPA+. What the price is expected?
Yeah i got the T turbo next g usb modem haven’t tried it for games yet but i recharge it with a hundred bucks every three months still had 2 gig on it at the end the value is worth every sent i attached a little antenna to it works even better
next i will be comparing it to 3 opt-us and vodafail
all thought my m8 next door is gaming on a similar set up no lag
so i guess the HSDPA works for me
cheers