Telstra to trial faster 4G services in WA

Telstra customers in Perth, Fremantle and Esperance will be among the first in Australia to experience the next generation of 4G services after Telstra announced it would start commercial trials of the advanced 4G technology.

Telstra said it would conduct commercial trials using 20MHz of the 700MHz spectrum band at six locations around Australia, ahead of rolling out more 4G 700MHz services in a range of cities and regional centres from January 2015.

"This spectrum operates at a lower frequency that will give our customers better 4G coverage in buildings, lifts and car parks," Telstra Group managing director networks Mike Wright said.

"It will be capable of providing customers double the speeds they currently experience on the 4G network, plus better 4G coverage indoors and beyond."

Mr Wright said that the next stage of Telstra's 4G services would bring together two spectrum bands, 700MHz and 1800MHz, to serve up faster data speeds.

"This combination of two spectrum bands also doubles the 4G capacity of our network, which means it can support more customers, using more devices, doing more of the things they love at the same time," he said.

Telstra said it currently offers a range of 4G devices that are compatible with the new 700MHz spectrum, including the HTC One M8 and the Samsung Galaxy S5, as well as one 4G advanced mobile broadband device.

A range of new smartphones and other connected devices compatible with 4G 700MHz is expected before the end of 2014.

"After completing successful testing of the network in Perth, Fremantle and regional New South Wales we are pleased to be able to have customers start trying the new network for themselves when we switch it on in the coming weeks," Mr Wright added.

"The commercial trial will also allow us to test how our use of the 700 MHz band interacts with wireless audio devices that are still able to be used by the community in this spectrum until the end of 2014."