TXC 3G WIRELESS HSDPA BROADBAND

TXC provides HSDPA 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 7.2 mbps down. 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 - 2.5 mbps in a location with 'perfect' conditions. Recently, TXC/Optus HSDPA users have experienced speeds much higher, 4.5 mbps in North Sydney for instance, and these speeds will become more common and more widespread as Optus progressively upgrades the network to 7.2 mbps down and over 1 mbps up across Australia.

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.

Hardware Required To Use TXC's HSDPA Service (Laptop/Desktop Computers)

The TXC HSDPA service requires the use of an Optus supplied 'sim' plus a USB device to connect the 'sim' to the Optus/TXC network. TXC provides both the 'sim' and the necessary USB device for a once only charge of $195.00 or FREE on a 24 month plan.

If you already have a suitable ‘modem’ then you can buy the sim only for a once only charge of $25.00 including delivery.

Advantages of HSDPA as a dial up internet replacement Service

TXC's HSDPA 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) TXC’s HSDPA 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 HSDPA as an ADSL replacement/substitute service

The major advantage of HSDPA is that it requires no telephone line rental and a customer is charged, in TXC's case, only for the actual data transmitted plus a small monthly service fee.

However, the downloads are expensive compared to TXC's, and other ISPs ADSL plans at levels above 1 gigabyte a month of usage and therefore HSDPA, 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 2,000 megabytes, it is a very low cost service (less than $30.00 a month)