Vodafone has announced what it says are successful trials of a new solution to provide mobile coverage for rural properties outside its normal coverage area, but the technology is essentially the same as something Optus launched several years ago, and subsequently discontinued.
The Vodafone Regional Coverage Hub is a small cellular base station that instead of being backhauled by Vodafone is backhauled by a farmer’s fixed broadband network.
Vodafone says it is a plug-and-play device that delivers 4G voice and data services in locations where commercial networks are not traditionally deployed, or where coverage is patchy or unavailable.
“The device can be quickly and easily installed on a roof or exterior wall of a property by simply plugging it into a power source and connecting to an existing broadband internet connection. It is approximately twice the size of a standard modem, measuring 30cm long, 25cm high and 10 cm wide.”
In particular Vodafone says it provides IoT connectivity, “giving farmers the opportunity to evolve and automate their processes via agriculture and farming IoT solutions.”
However Vodafone has made no mention of current, or planned support for CAT M1 or NB-IoT. Nor has Vodafone said whether it requires a fixed connection to the home broadband router, or if it uses WiFi.
Vodafone CTO Kevin Millroy said the self-install solution removed the dependency that regional communities and farmers have on mobile operators.
“It gives them the power to get mobile coverage quickly and easily, without needing to wait for a mobile tower to be built or existing infrastructure to be made available for co-location near their property.”
Vodafone has completed six week trial took near Ballarat Victoria using two devices. Vodafone says they delivered 4G coverage across more than eight square kilometres of a potato farm owned by local farmer, Scott Dimond.
Dimond said: “It was really quick and easily to get up and running and I don’t doubt farmers everywhere will be excited to learn that Vodafone’s trial was successful and solutions to problems are on the way.
However Vodafone’s announcement was somewhat premature: it does not plan to make the unit commercially available until the second half of 2019.
Forerunner: the Optus Home Zone
Optus launched its Home Zone in July 2011, describing it as “innovative femtocell technology” and “an Australian first.” It plugged into a fixed broadband service and provided dedicated 3G coverage for up to four simultaneous users. Optus discontinued it in 2016 in favour of an app that would automatically route mobile calls over the home WiFi and them onto the Optus cellular network when available.
