4G connectivity in Australia

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

4G is the fourth generation of mobile networks, giving much faster internet on phones than 3G. In Australia, the big three carriers—Telstra, Optus and Vodafone—have been rolling out 4G since the early 2010s, with coverage extending to most cities and many regional areas.

Brand names and speed features
- Telstra’s fast 4G service is marketed as 4GX.
- Optus uses the 4G Plus name for its faster 4G network.
- Vodafone offers its own 4G network across many areas.
- Some services use carrier aggregation, which combines multiple radio bands to boost speeds. Optus introduced this in 2014 in several cities; Telstra also rolled out carrier aggregation on parts of its network; Vodafone added it later.

Voice on 4G (VoLTE)
- VoLTE lets calls use 4G networks for clearer conversations. Telstra was the first to launch VoLTE across its 4G network. Optus began rolling out VoLTE in major cities in 2016. Vodafone ran trials earlier and expanded afterward.

Radio bands and coverage
- 700 MHz and 1800 MHz bands are widely used for 4G, helping reach more places including regional areas.
- 2300 MHz (Band 40) is used by Optus in big cities and other locations.
- Vodafone has used 850 MHz for 4G in some areas and has expanded other bands over time.
- Telstra uses various bands, including 700 MHz and 2100 MHz, to increase capacity where needed.
- Trials and launches of other bands (like 2600 MHz) have occurred to improve 4G in different parts of the country.

roaming and virtual networks
- Telstra and Vodafone offer 4G roaming in multiple countries, so you can use 4G while traveling.
- Optus offers roaming as well, though its coverage details aren’t always public.
- Boost is a Telstra MVNO (mobile virtual network operator); other MVNOs may use Telstra Wholesale networks, which are similar to Optus’ network in coverage.

What’s happening in 2024
- A major mobile-coverage study found Telstra delivers the fastest 4G speeds overall.
- Optus has the most available 4G coverage, meaning you’re likely to find a 4G signal more often on Optus.
- Vodafone has shown strong 4G speeds in Melbourne, with good overall performance in that city.

In short, Australia’s 4G networks are widespread and continually improving, with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone offering fast 4G services, voice over 4G, and expanding coverage through multiple bands and technologies.