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The options for people seeking a fast internet connection away from the home or office will improve next month when Telecom starts a fast data service for mobile users.
The "Revision A" upgrade to Telecom's Evolution Data Optimised network allows a theoretical download speed of 3.1Mbps (megabits per
second), similar to fixed-line consumer broadband services.
That much improves Telecom's "T3G" service which started last year with a saturation advertising campaign.
A Telecom spokeswoman said the faster data service would be available in Auckland from December 12, and from other main centres next year.
Telecom will initially be pushing use of mobile broadband with data cards that plug into users' laptops, giving high-speed internet access. The price of the cards has not been revealed.
Using a data card identical to those Telecom will use in New Zealand, the Herald connected to the Sprint network in San Diego.
The speeds achieved ranged from 370Kbps to 500Kbps - only slightly better than speeds obtained from the previous generation of data cards.
While much faster connection speeds of several megabits a second are being touted by operators introducing Revision A, speed is dependent on mobile signal quality and demand on the mobile network.
Pete Lancia, the director of technical marketing at Qualcomm, the company which invented the underlying technology on which Telecom's network is based, said the main benefits of Telecom's mobile upgrades were hugely increased upload speeds which would enable large files to be sent quickly and services such as video calling and mobile games to be delivered with much improved quality levels.
Vodafone recently completed an upgrade of its data network to HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) and is selling data cards and the "Vodem", a small modem that plugs into a computer's USB slot and creates a high speed internet connection. Telecom also plans to offer a USB modem.
Use of such services has spread among business users, but improving pricing of mobile data plans will put them within reach of private customers for the first time.
Vodafone maintained its $50 mobile broadband package with the move to the higher-speed service. It allows users to download up to one gigabyte of data a month - enough for light to moderate internet use.
Telecom is expected to also keep its pricing at $50 a month.
In the United States, Sprint gives people with its voice-calling plan an all-you-can-eat data package for US$60 ($88) a month for its fledgling mobile broadband service.
* Peter Griffin visited San Diego as a guest of Telecom