In September 2024, we reported that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) decided not to oppose an agreement between Optus and TPG Telecom, the owner of Vodafone aimed at revolutionizing mobile services in regional Australia. The most significant result of this partnership was that it allowed TPG (and by extension of Vodafone) to use Optus Regional Infrastructure Network to expand its 4G and 5G coverage. Less than five months later it has achieved just that.
Before this partnership, Vodafone’s network covered only 400,000 square kilometers, which meant it reached 95.4% of the population. From January 30, Vodafone Network can now boast a cover that reaches 98.4% of the population and has been expanded to 1,000,000 square miles across Australia.
Apart from giving current vodafone customers the opportunity to travel without worrying about their mobile connection, the biggest advantage of this increased national coverage is that it makes Vodafone a much more realistic choice for regional Australians, many of whom had only only they had they Often more expensive options of Telstra or Optus to choose from.
How does OPTUS-TPG Network Sharing Agreement work?
For years, Telstra has offered the widest coverage in Australia, and by 2022 there was actually a similar proposal for a network sharing agreement between Telstra and TPG, although it was once denied by accc and another time after appeal from the Australian competition strain.
The Court stated that the agreement would provide Telstra “competitive benefits and would further increase Telstra’s market strength in mobile telecommunications markets”. One of the reasons why this Optus-TPG agreement was allowed is because, as stated by TPG CEO Inaki Berroeta, it creates “a new era after election and competition for customers throughout the regional Australia”.
The essence of this agreement is the creation of what is known as a multi -operator core network (MOCN) in regional Australia, which just means the two providers share parts of their network. And although Vodafone/TPG and its many mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) should see significant benefits in terms of where their subscribers can get a signal, Optus has not worked with TPG just to be nice.
At the end of last year, Optus was crowned to the fastest mobile network, and through this agreement it was licensed to the TPG spectrum within MOCN, enabling it to increase capacity, quality and speed of its regional customers. When this Agreement was concluded, Optus CEO Michael also declared it to see “the roll -out of 5G infrastructure to be completed by about two years earlier than previously planned”.
So what are the current changes?
Currently, the only definitive change of note is that Vodafone’s network coverage has been expanded, and it is important to remember that not only is Vodafone affected – but all smaller MVNO -Telcos that also use it, such as TPG and Iinet .
Vodafone has a whole page dedicated to its cover expansion, so you can explore your local network after state to see how it has changed. For example, in terms of footprints, coverage in New South Wales, and the law has doubled, while South Australia has tripled and Vodafone’s coverage in Queensland has quadrupled.
There are currently no plans from Vodafone to increase the price of its plans to match its improved network, and customers do not have to do anything to access the extended coverage. If you are interested, you can explore Vodafone’s mobile plans to see what’s best for you.
