Vodafone has launched 4G in parts of Taupo today, with the town now experiencing the world's fastest mobile network technology.

Becoming the second North Island location, and now the fifth in New Zealand, to have superfast access to content and information on the move, Taupo follows in the path of Auckland, Christchurch, Lake Brunner, Queenstown and Wanaka.

Russell Stanners, CEO of Vodafone New Zealand, says the launch of a commercial 4G network is great news for the area.

“4G has captured customers’ imaginations, with over 135,000 4G-capable devices now active on our network," he says.

"And with 4G available to around 75% of the Taupo population by the end of July, there’s even more opportunity for Taupo locals and visitors to experience the speed of 4G.

“We’re proud to be the first to bring 4G to Taupo. Now you can use 4G when you’re trout fishing on the Lake, trying your luck at the Hole in One Challenge or simply enjoying a stroll around the town.”

Vodafone’s 4G network is up to ten times faster than standard 3G services, allowing customers to stream, download, upload, browse and game faster than ever before - with over 120,000 4G-capable devices active on the Vodafone network.

Kiwis can download a book in less than a second; stream HD movies or download them in minutes, not hours; download an album in the time it takes for a single track on 3G; and quickly zoom around maps on a mobile or tablet.

And 4G delivers a near seamless connection to the cloud, allowing businesses to upload and download attachments in seconds, and load web pages instantly.

Vodafone will roll out 4G to another 13 cities by the end of December this year.

For more information and 4G coverage maps, visit www.vodafone.co.nz/fast-network/