Fastest Wireless Broadband Available in Australia

  • Some Australians access world’s fastest mobile broadband
  • Covers CBDs in main regional centres
  • “Typical” download speeds are 1.1Mps to 20Mps

Telstra launched its latest broadband initiative on the its wireless 3G network, and the three independent MPs from Queensland/New South Wales will be very happy to see a large part of their constituency will benefit from the roll out.

Telstra’s Ultimate USB Modem has been rolled out across Australia’s capital city CBDs, metropolitan hubs, airports and more than 100 regional centres. With typical download speeds ranging from 1.1Mbps to 20Mbps in the these selected areas, the Telstra Ultimate USB is claimed to be twice as fast as Telstra’s current fastest Next G modem.

When questioned about the timing of the roll out, especially at who was to benefit, a Telstra spokesperson was non-plussed and said there were no political considerations taken into account.

Two thousand devices have launched today for Telstra business customers, before the widespread launch of the Ultimate later this year.

“Australians are telling us they can’t afford to be tied to the desk all day and these new speeds mean they can now access mobile broadband at speeds typically reserved for the office,” Telstra Business Group Managing Director, Deena Shiff said. “These new speeds are available across all capital city CBDs and selected metropolitan areas, associated airports and in more than 100 regional locations to match the areas of highest demand and will make the frustration of waiting around for files to download a thing of the past.”

Shiff also had a crack at Optus and Vodafone and their lack of speed in the wireless broadband department, although both of those companies are working toward catchsing up to the country’s biggest telco. “In other metropolitan and regional areas, the Telstra Ultimate USB Modem offers typical download speeds of up to 8Mbps, which is still…faster than Telstra’s mobile broadband competitors.And like all Next G devices, the service always operates at 3G speeds and won’t drop back to 2G like our competitors’ mobile broadband services can do,” Shiff said.

The USB is said to be the world’s first commercial modem to use a new generation of mobile broadband technology called dual channel HSPA+. The modem and enabling network technology was developed in collaboration with leading technology companies Ericsson, Qualcomm and Sierra Wireless.

RRP
$0 upfront with a $69 plan over 24 months (minimum total cost $1,656)
Outright $299.

Here are the suburbs/towns/regions that will be able to access the network.

Greater Adelaide
Adelaide Domestic and International Airports, Cheltenham, Elisabeth, Gawler, Glenelg (CBD), Port Adelaide, Queenstown, Smithfield, Stirling Shopping Centre – Westfield Marion, Oaklands Park Westlakes (incl Stadium) and Westlakes shore

Greater Brisbane
Amberley RAAF base, ANZ (formerly) Stadium, Caboolture (CBD), Eagle Farm Domestic Airport, Eagle Farm International Airport, Eagle Farm/Doomben Racecourse, Enoggera Army Barracks, Heavy Industrial Areas – Lytton, Pinkenba, Myrtletown, Bulwear Island, Ipswich (CBD), Queensland Tennis Centre, Redland Bay (CBD)

Greater Melbourne
Avalon Airport, Bayswater, Braeside, Camberwell, Campbellfield, Shopping Centre – Dandenong Plaza, Dandenong, Deakin Uni – Burwood campus, Shopping Centre – Knox Shopping Centre, Wantirna, Malvern, Melton, Shopping Centre – Eastland, Ringwood, Shopping Centre – Waverley Gardens, Mulgrave, Shopping Centre – Westfield Airport West, Airport West, Sunbury, Tullamarine Airport, Werribee (CBD), Shopping Centre – Westfield Southland, Cheltenham Greater Darwin Airport, Casuarina, Palmerston

Greater Sydney
Bondi Beach, Camden, Chatswood (CBD), Epping, Gosford (CBD), Liverpool (CBD), Maquarie Park, Narellan (CBD), Olympic Park/Stadium’s area, Parramatta (incl. Rosehill Racecourse), Penrith (CBD), Picton , Richmond (CBD), Richmond RAAF Base, Sydney Domestic and International Airport – Mascot, Windsor (CBD)

Greater Perth
Armadale, Fremantle, Joondalup, Mandurah (CBD), Northam, Perth Domestic And International Airports, Pinjarra, Rockingham (CBD)

Greater Canberra
Airport, Curtin, Fisher, Spence, Waramanga

Greater Hobart
Cygnet, Dodges Ferry, Hobart Airport, Kingston, Shopping Centre – Eastlands, Rosny, Shopping Centre – Northgate, Glenorchy, Sorell, Tranmere

REGIONAL UPGRADES

NSW
Albury/Wodonga (Albury CBD), Armidale (CBD), Bathurst, Coffs (CBD), Dubbo, Forster, Gilgandra, Goulburn, Gunnedah, Kempsey, Maitland (CBD), Newcastle (CBD), Lake Macquarie, Orange, Parkes, Peak Hill, Port Macquarie (CBD), Singleton, Wagga Wagga (CBD), Wollongong (CBD), Wyong (CBD)

VIC
Bairnsdale (CBD), Ballarat (CBD), Bendigo (CBD), Castlemaine, Echuca (CBD), Geelong (CBD), Horsham (CBD), Mildura (CBD), Morwell, Sale, Shepparton (CBD), Swan Hill, Traralgon, Wangaratta (CBD), Warrnambool (CBD)

SA
Clare, Mt Barker, Mt Gambier, Murray Bridge (CBD), Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Prominent Hill, Roxby Downs, Victor Harbor, Wallaroo, Kadina, Whyalla

TAS
Burnie, Bridport, Deloraine, Port Sorell, Launceston (CBD), Longford, St Helens, Ulverstone

NT
Alice Springs

QLD
Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Southport, Nerang, Cooloongatta, Gympie, Hervey Bay, Mackay (CBD), Maryborough, Moranbah, Mt Isa, Nambour, Port Douglas, Rockhampton, Roma, Caloundra, Maroochydore, Noosa, Toowoomba (CBD), Townsville, Yeppoon WA Albany, Boddington,