Vodafone switches on more 3G mobile coverage

Mobile carrier Vodafone has switched on high-speed 3G network services with a focus on regional areas.

The upgrade boosts Vodafone's 3G coverage from 80 per cent of the population to 94 per cent, according to the company.

Vodafone customers in the “hundreds” of upgraded areas can now access 3G data services for mobile Internet and e-mail.

Areas in NSW upgraded to 3G include the Hunter Valley and north coast region, west of the Blue Mountains, the south west, Snowy Mountains, south coast and Canberra.

Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) CEO, Nigel Dews, said the company was investing in its network to make 3G services “more accessible and affordable”.

“More Vodafone customers can now get online on their mobile phone or laptop while they're out and about, to keep up-to-date on e-mails, stay in-touch with friends and family via Facebook, MySpace or Twitter and blog, game or Google,” Dews said.

As part of the upgrade, Vodafone's regional 2G network will now support EDGE technology.

Existing Vodafone customers with a 2G mobile phone will continue to access voice and text messaging services as normal and may experience an increase in data speeds.

Vodafone is also offering all new and existing customers unlimited free access to Facebook on their mobile phone until October 31, 2009.