READ ALSO: A 2degrees customer number update, of sorts2degrees has launched its 3G network this morning.Offers are competitive, but not priced to hit Telecom or Vodafone out of the park. They include:
READ ALSO: A 2degrees customer number update, of sorts
2degrees has launched its 3G network this morning.
Offers are competitive, but not priced to hit Telecom or Vodafone out of the park. They include:
- $20 for 500MB of mobile broadband data, expiring in 30 days.
- $50 for 2GB of mobile broadband data, expiring in 60 days.
- $150 for 10GB of mobile broadband data, expiring in 90 days.
(Geekzone has compiled a price comparison with other telcos; view it here.)
The existing $6 for 50MB of data casual deal will also apply to 3G.
Excess data costs 10c a MB on the mobile broadband data plans; 50c a megabyte on the $6/50MB plan. (Read information on 2degrees' 3G plans and 3G devices on its website here.)
Voice and txt plans remain pre-pay only. Post-pay is promised by the end of the year.
Limited areas
The mobile broadband data deals will only apply within so-called "broadband zones", which coincide with areas where 2degrees has its own cellsites and other infrastructure: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Outside those areas (where customers roam, behind the scenes, on Vodafone's network), only the $6/50MB deal will apply.
Plans to build more
From the limited geographical scope of 2degrees mobile broadband data deals, many will draw the inference that 3G domestic roaming discussion with Vodafone have foundered. Relations between the two, brought together by regulators, have often been fractious.
2degrees majority shareholder, Seattle-based Trilogy, recently announced plans toraise $NZ501 million in debt, in part for expansion in New Zealand.
The extra capital would presumably provide 2degrees with the flexibility to build its own 3G network outside Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Today a spokeswoman confirmed the intention to build outwards, but said there was no specific timetable at this point.
BlackBerry out, iPhone in
2degrees does not support the server software necessary to run a BlackBerry on its network.
The company is releasing its own Micro-SIM card through Dick Smith stores from today, and via an 0800 number today, meaning a customer can run an Apple iPhone 4 or iPad 3G on 2degrees' 3G network.
Download speed
Like all HSPA 3G networks, 2degrees' has a theoretical maximum speed of 7Mbit/s.
2degrees CTO Mike Goss told NBR that customers should expect everyday download speeds in the region of 0.8Mbit/s to 1.4Mbit/s.
Telecom has already upgraded its network to the faster HSPA+ 3G spec, which has a theoretical maximum of 21Mbit/s.
Vodafone is in the process of upgrading its network to HSPA+.
Mr Goss said 2degrees would complete an HSPA+ upgrade to 14Mbit/s in 2011, with a further upgrade to 21Mbit/s in 2012.
The 2degrees network runs on the 2100MHz frequency.
Vodafone's 3G network uses the 2100MHz and 900MHz bands.
Big gear, little gear
2degrees 3G network, which includes three RNCs (Telecom had two at the time XT fell over) was built in partnership with China's Huawei, which also is also the supplier of a 3G data stock and handset in 2degrees' launch line-up - plus a wi-fi hotspot modem that lets up to five users share one 2degrees 3G connection.
Better fall-back
As on Vodafone, 2degrees 3G customers will be able to trip down to 2G in the event of any failure. CTO Mike Goss maintains his company's network has faster 2G, and will not be overwhelmed in the event of 3G falling over (see more of his Edge vs GPRS arguments here).
