Optus 4G
The race is on between Australian carriers to expand their networks to cover as much of the populated areas of Australia as possible. Today Optus has announced that they’ve added 4G service on the 2600MHz band to 40 sites around Australia, as well as receiving early access licence approvals from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to extend their 700MHz trial to 200 more sites.

There’s a big push on 4G expansion from Optus, with the carrier attempting to cover 90% of the Australian population by April 2015. Optus Networks Managing Director, Vic McClelland said:

This is a great opportunity for Optus to bring forward the benefits of 4G for customers for the peak summer holiday period. It reaffirms Optus’ commitment to deliver 4G consumer choice and competition. Already we have turned on our first 4G [2600MHz] sites in more than 40 towns and will continue to light up 4G on both 2600MHz and 700MHz spectrum, as it becomes available. Early access licenses for 700MHz spectrum give Optus the option to turn on 4G earlier than anticipated in many regional and holiday locations. Already we have turned on our first 4G [2600MHz] sites in more than 40 towns and will continue to light up 4G on both 2600MHz and 700MHz spectrum, as it becomes available.

The Optus 2600MHz (Band 7 FD-LTE) network is going live in 40 sites in NSW, QLD, South Australia and Victoria, Optus has listed todays sites going live on the 2600MHz network include :

NSW Queensland South Australia Victoria
  • Albury
  • Armidale
  • Batemans Bay
  • Galong
  • Coffs Harbour
  • Cootamundra
  • Dubbo
  • Goulburn
  • Macksville
  • Narooma
  • Orange
  • Port Macquarie
  • Suffolk Park
  • Towrang
  • Urunga
  • Wagga Wagga
  • Cannonvale
  • Cairns
  • Gooburrum
  • Innisfail
  • Proseprine
  • Rockhampton
  • Toowomba
  • Yeppoon
  • Ceduna
  • Littlehampton
  • Minnipa
  • Murray Bridge
  • Port Augusta
  • Wirrulla
  • Ballarat
  • Bendigo
  • Glenorchy
  • Maffra
  • Newborough
  • Traralgon
  • Wangaratta West
  • Waygara
  • Wodonga

The new 700MHz sites will go live at various locations including ‘regional and holiday locations’ in the lead up to the January 2015 official launch. You can of course check Optus coverage on the Optus Coverage Check website.

There’s a range of phones available on the Optus network which will support both the 700MHz and 2600MHz frequencies, including the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Note 4, LG G3, Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact, but from the specs on their website, it looks like the HTC One (M8) only supports the 700MHz network. Still, there’s more there and if you speak to your local Optus store, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

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