[News] Vodafone First to Roll Out 4G on 700MHz Band
It might only make up 1.1 per cent of New Zealand’s population, but Papakura has raced ahead to become the first district to receive superfast 4G mobile technology with 700MHz spectrum.
Vodafone was the first telecommunications company to roll out 4G in New Zealand, and the first to successfully trial rural 4G using 700MHz spectrum at Lake Brunner on the West Coast of the South Island last year.
Last week, Vodafone became the first to launch a commercial 4G service using 700MHz – freed up from the Government’s Digital Dividend auction – which delivers greater reach and better in-building coverage than other frequencies, making it ideal for deployment to rural areas like Papakura.
Vodafone’s Director of Technology, Sandra Pickering says kicking off the commercial 4G rollout to rural New Zealand is a major milestone.
“There’s no question that 4G – particularly in rural areas – will deliver economic benefit and have strong impacts for productivity.”
“Our focus this year is about expanding our 4G network to rural New Zealand with 700MHz. We’ll be activating 4G wherever possible on new Rural Broadband Initiative sites this year.”
