2Degrees 3G network testing yields positive feedback

2Degrees customers around the country have had the opportunity to test out its upcoming 3G network recently as the carrier's latest testing stage attempts to ascertain accurate usage patterns.

The carrier's 3G network is currently limited to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, which supports some 48% of the population. For the time being, 3G access for 2Degrees customers in other areas will be facilitated via a roaming agreement with Vodafone.

For the purposes of testing, 2Degrees customers with 3G-enabled handsets will have access to the 3G network until the end of next week. The carrier will not switch off the network but will begin to "block access to it" instead.

2Degrees corporate communications manager Bryony Hilless said that the response from 2Degrees users so far has been "really positive".

"We've had staff on it for some time. They've noticed some great connections going on in Wellington in particular," she said. "At the moment users are all saying that it's great."

Aside from improved call quality, 2Degrees 3G data users can expect speeds of between 800kb/s and 1.4mb/s, which the carrier has every intention of improving over time.

According to Hilless, some 13% of 2Degrees connections in the Wellington coverage area automatically switched to the 3G network despite the fact that the carrier does not currently sell 3G-capable handsets. This is indicative of the proportion of Wellington customers using handsets obtained elsewhere. "The beauty of our network is that any handset will work on it," said Hilless.

The carrier is yet to specify either an official date for the 3G network's launch or any pricing plans, although Hilless contends an announcement is not far away.