What if you built a mobile network and failed to cover two states?
Filed under: business, customers, lifestyle, mobile internet, mobile phone, networks, Next G™, smart phones, technology, wireless
Optus has launched a series of advertisements claiming its 3G mobile network now ‘rivals’ Telstra’s Next G™ network.
I’d suggest ‘still dwarfed’ would be a more appropriate description.
The fact is the Optus claims its network now covers approximately 850,000 square kilometres, compared to Telstra’s Next G™ network coverage of approximately 2.1 million.
That’s a shortfall of more than 1 million square kilometres – an area bigger than the states of NSW and Victoria combined.
Optus’ latest ads are also claiming Telstra charges “a premium” for customers using the Next G network .
We can only assume the Optus marketing department hasn’t noticed Telstra has revamped its pricing significantly this year to the point where the critics are now raving.
In its May issue, PC Authority Magazine said, “Telstra has made significant changes that tilt the value equation nicely in their favour”, while on the same page said the Optus plans offered “woeful” value: “Despite first impressions, their (Optus ‘ ) current mobile broadband plans are arguably quite poor value.”
Even before the latest Telstra price cuts, Australian PC User Magazine reported, ” With an extraordinarily wide reach, consistently high speeds and the ability of its 850 MHz network to hammer into areas where the 2100 MHhz 3G band network (used by Optus) can’t reach, Telstra’s Next G network ticks all the tech boxes. Thankfully, 2010 sees Telstra tick the value box as well.”
Of Optus, it said “we’re well aware anecdotally that its network is considered a bit hit and miss.”
Clearly its not really a question of whether Telstra is charging a “premium” as claimed by Optus, but rather is Optus providing a big enough discount?
Rod,
i don’t disagree with you on the coverage of nextG and quality of it. i haven’t been with Optus (and don’t intend too), hence i can’t provide my experience there. but for some reason (may be market forces), they are clearly doing a lot better than telstra. pls refer to the following articles.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/optus-wooing-telstras-lost/story-e6frg9lo-1225865990718
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Optus-Telstra-Vodafone-broadband-wireless-mobile-pd20100513-5E4S6?OpenDocument&src=srch
i think telstra is clearly wasting its valuable nextG coverage and quality factor by making it too much of a premium product. may be its time to simlify its product offerings & improve value proposition (currently on track).
Densly populated cities are a huge market where there is enough coverage from all providers and telstra’s 1 million sqm extra coverage may not mean anything to them, unless it comes with value for money.
I am sure the iPhone 4 war will be the next judgement series. i hope telstra wins it.
I was with Optus until recently (a week ago) and although I generally had coverage most places I went, lack of 3G coverage was an issue. I don’t think I ever made or received a call where the voice quality was crystal clear either – there always seemed to be some distortion of some kind.
After switching to Telstra, the first call I made was crystal clear. Best of all, I’m yet to be somewhere that I don’t have 3G coverage. I am most impressed and should never have left in the first place.
In terms of pricing – I do think you pay a little extra but it’s 100% worth it. I think Telstra have finally started to charge customers a reasonable amount for what’s on offer. A good example is the HTC Desire on a $49 cap – an offer I took up and very happy with. Data usage could be slightly maybe but overall a great product/service/price.
Blogger Ed Dale raves about the new iPhone on Next G: \I’m fortunate enough to live in Australia – we have the best iPhone compatible network in the world – the Telstra Next G network – I so wish my fellow iPhone lovers in the UK , Japan and the USA could experience what a network can do that actually takes complete advantage of everything the iPhone can do.\ http://www.eddale.co/general/on-reception-the-iphone-4-hysteria-the-real-lifelab-test-conundrum
Hi Rod,
I agree. The ‘cheaper’ networks probably aren’t applying a big enough discout when you consider their service quality compared to telstra, in terms of both customer relations and network quality.
Telstra is slowly but surely meeting customer satisfaction, especially in terms of price.
I work in real estate in a regional area. There is no way I could survive on Optus. I can’t be down the beach or 15 minutes out of town and find myself with no sevice coverage.
That’s why I need Telstra. And thank you to Thodey as well – he finally gets it
More mudslinging!
Haven’t you noticed that Telstra had started to finally regain part of their completely lost credibility, due to explaining to people the benefits of Telstra, having a more credible CEO, attempting to lower prices and improve customer relations?
But unfortunately there are obviously still a few within and associated with Telstra, clinging to the Trujillo mudslinging principle.
I suppose you couldn’t keep the lost cause, old leeches FUD going forever, could you? You finally pseudo-admit that Optus are actually investing and aren’t leeches after all. So you now turn to criticising the investment, instead. Dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t hey?
Somethings never change here at “now we are talking BS” do they?
I drove around Australia for 6 months between Oct 2009 and March 2010 – went all around the coast and up through the middle and can assure you there are still plenty of places with zero coverage on Telstra Next G. Optus wouldnt even get a look in.
Strewth i get tired of these rants bashing Optus.. “Look, I am the Greatest” . Rod, no one is denying Telstra has the biggest an Best Network..But strewth, you pay for it.. Even though they have closed the Gap, Telstra Data is still expensive.. The Competition still runs rings around Telstra.. Vodafone are offering 8gig mobile data for $39 in September. Optus mobile phone and WBB data, is way more generous than Telstras.. Optus recently purchased additional 2100 spectrum for Metro areas and have just this week been allocated more spectrum for regional areas. So we should see some improvements in due course. Their LTE trials were also encouraging.
Without the Competitive push from the likes of VHA and Optus, Telstra would still be sitting on its “Premium Product for Premium Price” and we would be paying through the nose for it. Like it or not , we need that competition.
Give up the Rants, its rather Childish and Boring..
I sometimes wonder why i am still a Telstra Customer..
Rants? Mudslinging? Goodness me! Paul, I share your passion for competition and I reckon an open discussion or even a debate on services is healthy. It helps inform consumers, surely that’s good? You clearly don’t like it – (“childish, boring”) -just as you’re always despairing about “still being a Telstra customer” yet you stick with Telstra and keep coming here even though it pains you so. I really feel for you – and thank you for your continuing patronage. Dean, we have moved on from the ‘leeches’ era. The investment drought we used to talk of ended with the NBN announcement. Taxpayers have come to the rescue and we can all look forward to a very positive and harmonious future sharing the network together on equal terms. All the experts say it will be fantastic and who am I to disagree? As far as mobiles are concerned, I hope there will always be healthy competition and strong private investment in competing networks to deliver real choice for consumers. It has been good for consumers. You might recall Optus once lobbied the Government to be allowed to “piggyback” on Telstra’s Next G network investment. The very positive announcement by Optus this week (yes I do applaud it) would not be happening if the Government hadn’t stood firm a few years ago when that debate was happening.
Rod,Telstra is the Number One Telco. There isnt any real issue for debate. I really dont see any point to the belittling of Optus?.. You dont do that with Vodafone or 3.. What is the point of attacking Optus? Does bring a sense of Superiority? Or is it insecurity, because the little guy is growing up and encroaching on your territory?
I will always stick up for the little guy, especially where intimidation and provocation is involved. Leave them alone and focus your time addressing more important issues like Customer service. There is plenty of work to be done in that area..
Cheers for now.
I recently returned to Telstra from 3 due to coverage issues. I missed being able to use my phone how I want, where I want. It must be said, your service has improved – I even got a call from a lovely young bloke today, clearly Australian, who just wanted to make sure everything with my new service was going well, and now that I’d had a chance to use the service for a bit, see if there were any questions I had. After briefly discussing how I was using it, he suggested sticking on a notification to let me know when I get near the end of my included calls. Absolutely brilliant initiative, Telstra, keep this up!
My goodness indeed and praise the Lord Rod, you’ve finally moved on from the leeches era. So do you also admit it was a completey wrong accusation and totally inappropriate campaign?
I see though, you haven’t quite been able to rid yourself of the old “now we are talking” era, by grasping David’s philosophy of talk up Telstra and gain people’s confidence rather than, yes, “mudslinging”!
But step by step I guess!
And what about the rogue regulator have you moved on from that too? I’d like to hear your 2010 era take on that!
So to 2010. Perhaps Paul is still a Telstra customer because of all the good things, I mentioned on the 16th, David Thodey has brought to Telstra, including the non leeches era. I personally was going to leave Telstra too but have decided to stay!
It’s obvious that the very positive announcements coming seemingly daily from within the ICT industry, wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for competition and thye NBN, forcing the likes of Telstra and Optus to actually work for thier clientele by providing better products and services.
So like you Rod I also applaud it too, as we are all benefitting and isn’t that all we ask?
Only yesterday I was in a Telstra shop and looking at the T-Hub, T-Box, new bundles etc. Stuff that without the need to innovate and compete, Telstra simply would never have offered.
In some instances, these are a simply an innovative take on an old theme. But they are quite well thought out devices, which have that, I’ve gotta get me one of those appeal, about them!
Look, I believe most Aussies, deep down, would prefer to deal with someone they know, so deal with Telstra, if and when they can, as long as the prices are comparable. That’s the simple point I am hearing here, even from those who are more often than not critical, like Paul and myself.
OMG I am so sick of the Telstra ‘Premium Service’ bullcrap!
I am guessing the ‘critics’ are on the Telstra payroll as the prices are still over the top for Telstra services. Or it is a form of paid advertising, either way it is not what the average user would say I bet. Living in a rural area of the South West of WA I can say that there are many blackspots that even Telstra do not cover so I would not be crowing too loud Rod.
While Optus might not be up there in full coverage as Telstra, I am sure they are bridging that gap more and more and making Telstra sweat. Let me put it this way if they (Optus) were available here they would get my business (and I’d estimate many others here too based on chats I have had). Not just because they are cheaper and provide more data etc but because they do not massively over fee its users like Telstra do and they believe in competition without being forced into it like Tesltra does.
The ONLY reason Telstra made some SMALL moves on its data and prices a short while ago was because they were loosing market share and had to do something to reduce that loss growing further.
It was like the introduction of the Telstra cap plans, Telstra was practically dragged kicking and screaming into releasing cap plans. I can recall before they did add cap plans I asked a number of Telstra reps why. The answer was they did not like them as it did not make them as much money. Just keeps coming back to Telstra wants to charge the most they can for everything and in doing so they keep trying to justify it by having a ‘Premium Service’, what crap.
Telstra has never been self competitive, it is always forced into it one way or the other by others being competitive. It would be a shock to most if Telstra ever did something proactive instead of always being reactive.
Lets keep it simple Telstra are not competitive price wise, never have and don;t want to be. They expect people to pay through the nose for a so called ‘premium service’ and the only reason Telstra still have numbers is because for people like us that is our only choice. I am not with Telstra beacuse I want to be, I am with Telstra as that is all there is. Is that Telstra’s fault, no of course not, but Telstra do not have to charge so much for it.
It does make you wonder though what would you be charging for your so called ‘premium services’ if there was no competition…. ouch!
I think David is starting to move Telstra in the right direction, but it just takes too long for the old Telstra wheel to turn and any credible benefits gained by David are very soon lost by posts and replies like yours Rod.
GW
I would never go back to optus, Optus has a shit network, Vodafone and Virgin mobile also use the Optus Network, i wouldn’t use any of them providers again,
I’m now with Telstra on it’s Next G network and i’ve got coverage every where i go, i can drive 5 hours out of Melbourne and still have coverage with Telstra, with Optus, there are to many black spots.
Telstra’s network was also rated as being the fastest wireless network in the world, and the largest by size!
And you know something, you can make 3 way calls on the Telstra mobile network but you can’t on Optus!
Gee thanks Ashley, your cheque is in the mail, lol…
Hmmm, but I wonder if someone said Telstra NextG is a “shit network” would their comment be deleted?
Well, i don’t work for Telstra, and i’ve been with many networks, Telstra never cuts out, it covers from Victoria to Tasmania by water as well,
I gotta say, Telstra has shit plans while Dodo and Primus have better,
But the good thing is that Telstra’s network was rated as the world’s fastest wireless network.
Thanks
http://www.CrazyTel.com.au
Looks like VHA is rolling out a new 850mhz network like Telstra. Using their share of their old Orange Hutch spectrum lower band or upper depending location/area. So their network would be 850mhz/900mhz/2100mhz 3G.
sites:Bronte, Clovelly and Maroubra to Katoomba
Proof:
http://digitaledition.southerncourier.com.au/default.aspx?iid=36128&startpage=page0000134
http://bluemountainsgazette.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?iid=36169&startpage=page0000056
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Notice+under+Section+5.6.3+Industry+Code+C564:2004+for+the+Deployment+of+Mobile+Phone+Network+Infrastructure+Vodafone+is+one+of+Australia
thanks to forum users.
Plus Optus’s Network isnt good, because i used to get dropouts or fail calls.
We have both optus and telstra and the difference only shows up with mobile when we travel. Where Telstra wins. But it’s not perfect.
Why couldn’t Telstra provide 100% coverage in both mobile and broadband using satellite technologies such as used by Newsat to ramp up remote coverage. Evenso Telstra won’t be competitive just on the strength of coverage in comparison to the others.
Telstra needs to deliver innovative products such as a Nexus One style multi functional mobile communication centre. Ideally such devices will also function as netbook, access cloud computing apps, provide tv/radio and automatically use a range of communication modes to maintain reception and functionality. When that happens Telstra could take real kudos for its network and services. Until then its just blowing in the wind.
Dean
Telstra is not perfect but it is an Australian company who battles against regulation designed to assist opponents. Perhaps with the event of the NBN Telstra will be allowed to compete without the handicap of unfair Government rules.
People watch it, i posted a comment on here the other day, and i said that Telstra had bad plans, i used no abuse at all and wasn’t attacking anyone, they removed it because i said there plans are bad,
There only going to allow you to post if you say something good about them!
That’s why you see nothing but good post on here, there deleting the others,
I’m with Telstra at the moment, i might go to another provider if there going to delete my comment’s, people are able to say what they want even if it states how bad Telstra is!
Hi Ashely, Not sure which post you mean. I can see 4 from you.
Rod,
I really think it’s time you look at the bigger picture.
Yeh, ok, Optus doesn’t have as big of a chunk of Australia covered as you do, but they are gaining a huge amount of traction on Telstra as a whole.
I’d shared my sentiments about why I think this is in a recent article http://www.itsjakethomas.com/do-you-care-about-your-brand
- Jake
Telstra may have bad call rates, but there network is 84% better than 1999, when Telstra upgraded it’s wireless network to 7.2mbps about 2 years ago, it was rated as the fastest wireless network in the world, and then Telstra upgraded to 14mbps and now Telstra has 21mbps on it’s wireless network, making it 8 times faster than the next fastest in the world, and Telstra just finished another upgrade on it’s wireless network to 42mbps which devices for it will be released in late 2010, and Telstra CEO has said that by this time next year, Telstra’s wireless network will be upgraded to 84mbps, making it much much fast than the next best, only by 60 times faster.
Telstra also has coverage all around Australia, did you know that Telstra install base stations on both of the ships that head from Melbourne to Tasmania, so now people have coverage on the water.
I have been with three for the last 5 years. While I have enjoyed the small bills I can’t say i have enjoyed the network or the roaming charges. I finally had enough last week and decided to check out telstra for a laugh. What I never realised was the discounts you get when you bundled. $128 on the new bundle with 100GB internet and I get $10 off my foxtel and $10 off of mobile plans. SOLD. I signed up last week and am waiting for my churn. Now that i can take $10 off of mobile plans i can also afford to come back to the nextg network. Looking forward to it. Every body knows optus & 3/voda are oversubscribed and flaky you don’t need to point it out.
I just hope everything goes smoothly with my setup
i have two i phone contracts which started on 22nd march 2010 telstra said i would get $200 welcome credits on each service and as to this date 25 .07.2010 only some of the credit has been put on my account i am not pleased plus i have another problem with the data usage metre on both accounts where the data usage metre billing cycle is not matching the billing cycle and this has been going on since 22nd of march i have contacted telstra 11 times about the same problem i can not use the i phones with out the usage metres working why do you do this to your customers i have also emailed you ceo office as well no reply some one has got fix this problems i also have twoletters from telstra saying they have fix the problems but they have not i want my contracts canceled i going to virgin mobile i have been with telstra for over 30 years i want your ceo of telstra to ring me on 0468764244 and fix the problems or email me at jwatson16@rocketmail.com thank you
Rod I am a little surprised.
Being such a fair and open minded Telstra spokesman, that you wouldn’t, following this blatant attack on Optus, today have an article outlining the $18.55m fines placed on Telstra by the Fedaral Court, for illegal, exchange capping.
At least Telstra for once have copped it on the chin and said they won’t appeal.
So come on Rod, how about a full story on that? A little balance please
I have been with Optus for 2 years now after moving from Telstra. My Telstra bills were always about $350 to $400. My Optus bills have never been over $100 and I have not paid for data since leaving Telstra.
My problem with Optus is that their online sale staff are completely incompetent. BUILT FOR BUISNESS?
The only thing now stopping me from returning to Telstra is the need to have a Telstra land line to receive value for money wireless broadband. I don’t need a land line.
This topic ‘Failed to cover two States’, i don’t know about forgetting to cover 2 states but i do know 1, if Telstra built it’s network and forgot to cover New South Wales, i’ll be happy, i’ve always wanted to take them off the map!
Ashley B
myvistahosting.com.au
crazytel.com.au
Telstra’s recent plans are better value. Any chance of Telstra offering a cheap and simple SIM card, loaded with 300-400MB, for $10-$15? I reckon your current $40 for 1GB is too much. Thanks.