Exetel HSPA Broadband Services (20/9/08)
HSPA Network
Exetel provides HSPA services using the Optus mobile network. Currently Optus, like other Australian mobile carriers, is continuously upgrading its mobile network to provide faster data speeds over ever larger percentages of Australia's population areas. The current maps of all parts of Australia can be found by clicking on the 'Coverage Maps' sidebar link on the left hand side of this page.
Current Likely Service Speeds
The current maximum theoretical speeds that could be achieved on the parts of the Optus network that have been provisioned with 3G are 3.6 mbps down and 384 kbps up. However, like many other forms of broadband, these speeds are dependent on many factors and it is not likely that any user will ever achieve download speeds much greater than 2 mbps in a location with 'perfect' conditions.
Any decision to purchase this service should be based on a careful assessment of the coverage maps and the realisation that, currently, 1500 kbps down is likely to be the maximum speed obtainable from this service in optimum locations at its currently deployed technology level.
For first hand views of speeds and how VoIP and various games perform and to ask specific questions you might like to join the discussions here:
http://forum.exetel.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=308&t=28354
Hardware Required To Use Exetel's HSPA Service (Laptop/Desktop Computers)
The Exetel HSPA service requires the use of an Optus supplied 'sim' plus a USB device to connect the 'sim' to the Optus/Exetel network. Exetel provides both the 'sim' and the necessary USB device for a once only charge of $195.00.
If you already have a suitable ‘modem’ then you can buy the sim only for a once only charge of $25.00 including delivery.
Hardware Required To Use Exetel's HSPA Service (Mobile Telephone Handset)
If a prospective customer has a mobile telephone hand set (such as an Apple iPhone or one of the many other 2100/900 mobile handsets) they wish to connect to the Exetel/Optus HSPA service, and are confident in their technical abilities to ensure this works, there is no need to use a USB device and the only once only charge is $25.00 for the supply of the required 'sim'.
A list of compatible mobile handsets can be found by clicking the side bar link 'Compatibility List' that can be found on the left hand side of this page.
Advantages of HSPA as a mobile data service
Exetel's HSPA via Optus service is an ideal mobile data service that combines Optus' wide geographic coverage with Exetel's industry leading very low pay for what you use data rates. With no contract and no 'included usage' plans a person who needs access to the internet via their laptop in different geographic locations at the lowest possible cost will find it difficult to beat an Optus/Exetel HSPA service.
Advantages of HSPA as a dial up internet replacement Service
Exetel's HSPA via Optus service is an ideal replacement for a dial up internet service offering much higher speeds (subject to location) and, for people who download less than 1 gigabyte a month (practically all dial up users) Exetel’s HSPA service is almost certainly going to be lower cost than a current dial up service with the additional advantage of no dial up telephone call costs and, if required, no telephone line rental charge.
Advantages of HSPA as an ADSL replacement/substitute service
The major advantage of HSPA is that it requires no telephone line rental and a customer is charged, in Exetel's case, only for the actual data transmitted plus a small monthly service fee.
However, the downloads are expensive compared to Exetel's, and other ISPs ADSL plans at levels above 1 gigabyte a month of usage and therefore HSPA, at least at this time in its development is not suitable for people who want large downloads (it definitely is NOT suitable for people who use P2P) or who want to play low latency sensitive games.
For a customer who wants a broadband internet service for browsing, email and limited file downloading with total monthly downloads and uploads of less than 1,000 megabytes (approximately 50% of all users of Exetel's ADSL broadband services) then it is a very low cost service (less than $20.00 a month) that has the ability to further lower a households communication costs via VoIP (which requires no telephone line and which provides Australia wide wire line calls at 10 cents per call).
