Three Australia
Encyclopedia
Three Australia was introduced by Hutchison in Australia in 2003, through its majority ownership of Hutchison Telecom Australia Ltd (HTAL). As of June 2009, HTAL now owns 50% of the merged Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Ltd
, containing both the "Three" and "Vodafone" networks. The 3 and Vodafone networks remained separate as of August 2009.
formerly operated an Australian CDMA network under the Orange
brand name. On 1 February 2006, it was re-branded as 3 CDMA, and this network was closed as of 9 August 2006. 3 CDMA customers were offered special tariffs and incentives to continue as customers on the 3G network, all customers either moved over to 3's 3G network or to other network providers.
Hutchison introduced the "Three" network in Australia in 2003, through its majority ownership of Hutchison Telecom Australia Ltd (HTAL). As of June 2009, HTAL now owns 50% of the merged Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Ltd
, containing both the "Three" and "Vodafone" networks. The 3 and Vodafone networks remained separate as of August 2009.
On 9 February 2009 HTAL and Vodafone
announced that they would be merging their Australian operations into a 50-50 joint venture called VHA Pty Ltd. All products and services offered by VHA would be marketed under the Vodafone brand, and VHA would hold exclusive rights to use the 3 brand. This merger was expected to be completed by mid-2009, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, As of 29 May 9, shareholder and regulatory approval is granted. and was completed in June 2009.
In areas not covered by 3's 3G network, customers roam on Telstra
's GSM
/GPRS
/EDGE
or UMTS networks. This agreement allows 3 to offer coverage to up to 96% of the population. In certain areas, customers may roam on Vodafone Australia
's GSM
/GPRS
/EDGE
network. Unlike roaming on Telstra's network however, data charges are inclusive to one's data plan, and is not charged separately. When roaming on Vodafone's network, '3 2G' will appear on a customer's handset. 3's total number of Australian subscribers reached 2,000,000 as of April 2009
This is a list of known active mobile networks used by 3 Australia
's GSM mobile service on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz covers 94.52% of Australia's population. The 3G 2100 MHz UMTS network is available in metro areas of major cities and some larger regional centres covering 80% of the population. Expansion of the 3G UMTS network using 900 MHz to equal or surpass the GSM coverage is due to be completed by 31 August 2009 http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/services/coverage/maps/index.htm http://maps02.pdslive.com.au/VCATPublic/Kiosk.html.
In a media release issued on 27 May 2008, Vodafone claimed 4.031 million mobile telephone customers connected across Australia (including 0.341 million connected to MVNOs).
Vodafone Hutchison Australia
Vodafone Hutchison Australia ' is a mobile telecommunications company that operates the Vodafone, '3' and Crazy John's brands in Australia...
, containing both the "Three" and "Vodafone" networks. The 3 and Vodafone networks remained separate as of August 2009.
History
HutchisonHutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
formerly operated an Australian CDMA network under the Orange
Orange SA
Orange is the brand used by France Télécom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries. It is the fifth largest telecom operator in the world, with 210 million customers . The brand was created in 1994 for Hutchison Telecom's UK mobile phone network, which was...
brand name. On 1 February 2006, it was re-branded as 3 CDMA, and this network was closed as of 9 August 2006. 3 CDMA customers were offered special tariffs and incentives to continue as customers on the 3G network, all customers either moved over to 3's 3G network or to other network providers.
Hutchison introduced the "Three" network in Australia in 2003, through its majority ownership of Hutchison Telecom Australia Ltd (HTAL). As of June 2009, HTAL now owns 50% of the merged Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Ltd
Vodafone Hutchison Australia
Vodafone Hutchison Australia ' is a mobile telecommunications company that operates the Vodafone, '3' and Crazy John's brands in Australia...
, containing both the "Three" and "Vodafone" networks. The 3 and Vodafone networks remained separate as of August 2009.
On 9 February 2009 HTAL and Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
announced that they would be merging their Australian operations into a 50-50 joint venture called VHA Pty Ltd. All products and services offered by VHA would be marketed under the Vodafone brand, and VHA would hold exclusive rights to use the 3 brand. This merger was expected to be completed by mid-2009, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, As of 29 May 9, shareholder and regulatory approval is granted. and was completed in June 2009.
- 15 April 2003 - Three launched its services in Sydney and Melbourne
- June 2003 - coverage extended to Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and the Gold Coast.
- February 2004 - Three Reaches 1750 Base Stations, and announces another 200 to be built by End of Year.
- 2005 - Telstra 50/50 partnership commenced. 3 Australia spun off its 3G radio network into a 50/50 partnership with TelstraTelstraTelstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
. Hutchison continued to own its separate core network, application and service platforms, and their retail 3G business independently and in competition with Telstra. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Telstra-Hutchison-share-3G-network/0,139023166,139155373,00.htm - Achieves 65 Company Stores
- 2005 - Coverage in Canberra added
- 2006 - Geelong, Frankston, Wollongong coverage added.
- March 2007 - HSDPA was activated on the entire 3G footprint bringing peak speeds of up to 3.6 Mbit/s.
- Mid 2007 - 3 launched a series of Service Centres, which service customers' handsets dispatched from retailers, or those of walk-in customers (with 90% of the latter being available for collection within an hour of drop-off).
- June 2009 - Merges with Vodafone Australia to form new joint venture operation named Vodafone Hutchison Australia. 3 Mobile remains a separate network to Vodafone at the commencement.
Network
Three operates a 2100 MHz 3G network in a 50/50 partnership with Telstra[1] (the radio networks are shared, the core networks are separate), covering approximately 56% of Australia's population. The 3G network covers Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Geelong, Frankston and Wollongong.In areas not covered by 3's 3G network, customers roam on Telstra
Telstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
's GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications
GSM , is a standard set developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe technologies for second generation digital cellular networks...
/GPRS
General Packet Radio Service
General packet radio service is a packet oriented mobile data service on the 2G and 3G cellular communication system's global system for mobile communications . GPRS was originally standardized by European Telecommunications Standards Institute in response to the earlier CDPD and i-mode...
/EDGE
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution
Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution is a digital mobile phone technology that allows improved data transmission rates as a backward-compatible extension of GSM...
or UMTS networks. This agreement allows 3 to offer coverage to up to 96% of the population. In certain areas, customers may roam on Vodafone Australia
Vodafone Australia
Vodafone Australia is a mobile telephone company, a subsidiary of Vodafone Hutchison Australia. Vodafone Australia was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone Plc ....
's GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications
GSM , is a standard set developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe technologies for second generation digital cellular networks...
/GPRS
General Packet Radio Service
General packet radio service is a packet oriented mobile data service on the 2G and 3G cellular communication system's global system for mobile communications . GPRS was originally standardized by European Telecommunications Standards Institute in response to the earlier CDPD and i-mode...
/EDGE
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution
Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution is a digital mobile phone technology that allows improved data transmission rates as a backward-compatible extension of GSM...
network. Unlike roaming on Telstra's network however, data charges are inclusive to one's data plan, and is not charged separately. When roaming on Vodafone's network, '3 2G' will appear on a customer's handset. 3's total number of Australian subscribers reached 2,000,000 as of April 2009
This is a list of known active mobile networks used by 3 Australia
| Frequency | Protocol | Class | | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 900 MHz | GSM/EDGE | 2G | Telstra network, accessible by roaming agreement |
| 1800 MHz | GSM/EDGE | 2G | Telstra network, accessible by roaming agreement |
| 900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE | 2G | Vodafone AU network, accessible by roaming agreement |
| 1800 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE | 2G | Vodafone AU network, accessible by roaming agreement |
| 850 MHz | UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ | 3G | Telstra NextG network accessible by roaming agreement. Not accessible where there is 3GIS coverage |
| 2100 Mhz | UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA | 3G | Home network of 3. 3GIS network in 50/50 partnership with Telstra Telstra Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services.... , covers capital cities |
Sponsorship
3 has sponsored Big Brother Australia from 2005 to 2008 (when it was canceled), The Australian Cricket Team and Essendon Football Club.Vodafone Australia
The Vodafone AustraliaVodafone Australia
Vodafone Australia is a mobile telephone company, a subsidiary of Vodafone Hutchison Australia. Vodafone Australia was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone Plc ....
's GSM mobile service on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz covers 94.52% of Australia's population. The 3G 2100 MHz UMTS network is available in metro areas of major cities and some larger regional centres covering 80% of the population. Expansion of the 3G UMTS network using 900 MHz to equal or surpass the GSM coverage is due to be completed by 31 August 2009 http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/services/coverage/maps/index.htm http://maps02.pdslive.com.au/VCATPublic/Kiosk.html.
In a media release issued on 27 May 2008, Vodafone claimed 4.031 million mobile telephone customers connected across Australia (including 0.341 million connected to MVNOs).
VHA Ownership
Vodafone Hutchison Australia is owned by:- Vodafone: 50% - as of July 2009
- Hutchison Telecoms Australia Ltd (HTAL) - 50%
- Note: HTAL is owned by:
- Hutchison WhampoaHutchison WhampoaHutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
: 52.03% - as of 16th 9 Mar - Public shareholders: 26.84%
- Telecom NZ: 10% (with an option for a further 9.94%)
- Leanrose Pty Limited: 11.13%
- Hutchison Whampoa
- Note: HTAL is owned by: