Non-Vodafone Nexus S in Australia

[ryconn]

Is anyone using a Nexus S in Australia and not on the Vodafone network (and contract)?

I want to buy a new Nexus S outright (I'm not interested in contracts) and use it on Telstra's network. Is this possible?

 

[AndreaCristiano]

what are the frequencies?

 

[ryconn]

what are the frequencies?

Telstra's? Or the Nexus S?

 

[AndreaCristiano]

Telstra's? Or the Nexus S?

telestras

 

[ryconn]

telestras

Source: Telstra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mobile networks

This is a list of known active mobile networks used by Telstra

900 MHz GSM/EDGE 2G EDGE data capabilities are available on 100% of the GSM networks used

1800 MHz GSM/EDGE 2G Used in areas requiring extra capacity 850 MHz UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ 3G Telstra Next G 3G network covering 99% of the Australian population

2100 MHz UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA 3G 3GIS network in 50/50 partnership with Vodafone Hutchison Australia, covers capital cities (Telstra is ending this partnership on 1 January 2012 or later - at which point all 3G customers will be required to utilise Telstra's Next G Network)

February 2011: Ericsson wins 4G contract with Telstra. The LTE network will deploy in capital city CBDs and select regional centres by the end of the year. It will operate at 1800Mhz and integrated with HSPA+ service at 850Mhz. The company was developing a dual mode LTE/HSPA+ for it.

 

[quantumrand]

Source: Telstra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Well, the current Nexus S (which has 900/1700/2100 MHz 3G bands) will work on EDGE with Telstra, but things are a bit more complicated regarding 3G, since Telstra seems to be patched together by several networks.

In "capital cities" it should work on 3G, at least until next year when they terminate that partnership with Vodafone. After that, you'll be stuck on EDGE again.

Your best bet would probably be with an AT&T banded Nexus S (with 850/1900 MHz 3G bands). That ought to play nice with Telstra's 850MHz 3G network which covers "99% of the Australian population."

Note: Keep in mind that I really don't know how Telstra's network is setup. It's a very strange patch job they have going on.

 

[ryconn]

can I ask why Telstra?

Not that it helps that much maybe but I have N-S on Optus in Sydney, and I get 3G most places that there is service. On my Galaxy S on Optus I get HSPDA many places I get service.

I'm currently using a Galaxy S with Optus, in Brisbane (in the city) and the service (anything to to do with the internet, voice calling service has been fine) is atrociously bad. I've got friends who are with Telstra, using various smartphones (iPhone 4's, 3's, HTC Desire, and a few others) and they all seem to have lightning fast internet service compared to me (non wi-fi internet - which does not work on my Galaxy S anyhow). That said, I should probably try a Telstra SIM in my Galaxy S and compare the difference before rushing into that. But at the same time, I have very little love for Optus (I felt very ripped off with the Galaxy S, given the problems it has, and as I discovered, it's not Optus' problem - they are just the service providers) and I'd love to have the opportunity to tell them where to stick it, and any other service provider has got to be an improvement on them.

 

[blueatria]

I have a Nexus S on Optus. I bought it off eBay and it was new in it's original packaging. It works great on Optus. I have not tried on Telstra but I do have a sim so I might give it a go. The Nexus S is very nice hardware and gingerbread is not bad. I use the Nexus S as my main phone and as a mobile hotspot and all works very well subject to Optus coverage which can at times be a bit spotty. I am pretty happy with it.