Australia - Mobile Communications - 3G Infrastructure

Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd, July 2012, Pages: 10

Deploying 3G networks enabled the mobile operators to offer new, high-bandwidth services such as video calling with mobile broadband allowing many other mobile services. Early development of 3G cellular radio systems began back in the early 1990s but it was not until the mid-2000s that 3G mobile networks started to take off. Into the late 2000s mobile broadband really took off once pricing became more affordable.

With around 70% of subscribers using 3G services, the market is characterised by a high uptake of mobile value-added services across enterprise mobility and consumer segments. Designed to provide both voice and data services to end-users, 3G mobile networks differ from the older 2G GSM networks currently operating in Australia in that they provide higher bandwidth data services, allowing consumers access to a new range of content and applications.

These 3G networks can provide access to data and the internet through either a mobile handset, a mobile handset functioning as a modem for a laptop or personal computer, – plugged into the laptop or PC, or tethered wirelessly, – or a datacard that is inserted into a laptop or PC. Newer developments include wireless 3G modems and smartphones acting as local WiFi hotspots.

This report provides high-level information on the 3G networks and the mobile sites in Australia, and also provides an analysis of the infrastructure issues. For information on 4G and HSPA and LTE developments see separate report: Australia - Mobile Broadband - HSPA and LTE.

Hot topics and technologies mentioned
Hot topics and technologies mentioned in this report include – 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, HSPA, UMTS, WCDMA.

1. Synopsis
2. Background information
3. Network operators
3.1 Telstra
3.1.1 Background information
3.1.2 Telstra 4G LTE
3.1.3 2100MHz network closing end August 2012
3.2 Optus
3.2.1 Background information
3.2.2 Optus 4G LTE
3.2.3 Network speeds and coverage
3.2.4 Co-sharing agreement sees network expansion in 2013
3.3 VHA
3.3.1 Background information
3.3.2 Merged operations
3.3.3 New network upgrades – 2012
3.3.4 Co-sharing sees Vodafone get further rural network expansion
4. Mobile sites infrastructure
4.1 Overview and statistics
4.2 Crown Castle
5. Infrastructure analysis
5.1 Structural separation and open networks
5.2 Squeezed out of the content markets
5.3 Mobile broadband market
6. Mobile broadband High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and Long-term evolution (LTE) (separate report)
7. Related reports
Table 1 – Mobile base stations – 2009; 2011 - 2012
Table 2 – Crown Castle mobile tower acquisitions – 2000 - 2012

Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, Hutchinson, VHA, Crown Castle Agile, iiNet.

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