MOBILE BROADBAND UPGRADE 50% COMPLETE

Over half of Telecom’s Mobile Broadband network has now been upgraded with market-leading rev a technology.

Telecom’s GM of Business Products Martin Butler says that the first phase, which began in Auckland last December, is now complete and deployment to the rest of the country has begun.

“The roll-out schedule focused on upgrading Mobile Broadband services in the main cities initially and has now extended to places we identified as high Mobile Broadband usage areas”

“Currently Telecom customers in all the main cities and many of the larger towns have access to enhanced Mobile Broadband, and by the end of the year our entire EVDO network – which covers over 70% of the  places New Zealanders live and work - will be upgraded” says Mr Butler.

Mobile data is becoming an increasingly ‘must have’ service for people needing to stay connected – even when they are on the move, which is why Telecom is investing a total of  $18.4 million upgrading its Mobile Broadband service.

“The upgrade increases average download speeds by up to 15 percent and average upload speeds by 500 percent. This is a huge advantage for people wanting to send and receive large files, check and reply to emails, use the Internet or do whatever they need to - without being chained to their desk,” says Mr Butler.

Mr Butler says that Mobile Broadband is being used by Telecom customers for a wide range of reasons, from people wanting to surf the net on the move, through to business people using Mobile Broadband to access important files or check emails or their calendar while away from the office.

“We hear so many positive stories of how Mobile Broadband has changed the way people access the Internet – for the better. We hope that the enhanced services in even more areas will mean more people will be able to experience the benefits of Mobile Broadband” says Mr Butler.

Mobile Broadband can be used on PDAs and some mobile phones, and by laptops or notebook computers using a Mobile Broadband data device.

Telecom currently has a Mobile Broadband USB modem and a PCMCIA datacard in the market and this month will be broadening its product range to include a Mobile Broadband express card, all three devices will be able to take advantage of rev a speeds when in an upgraded area.

For a full list of upgraded towns and coverage maps, visit: