It is no secret that Telstra’s decision to use the 850MHz spectrum for the Next G™ network, which launched two years ago, took the local industry by surprise. After all, at the time the only other major telco in the world intending to deploy and operate a 3GSM network at that lower frequency was Cingular (AT&T).

Since then, while the growth in our subscriber numbers and key financial metrics have shown that our bet has paid off, the launch of other 3G networks around the world at 850MHz continues to validate our technological foresight.

We didn't just sit back and watch this happen though, instead we have worked hard over the past few years to help the ecosystem along through a number of key activities.

• Joint establishment of an 850MHz working group with AT&T and the GSMA that brought interested operators together and facilitated an award for a true multi-band world phone, the Horizon Series (www.gsmworld.com).
• Participation in working group and initiatives such as the GSMA embedded notebook (www.gsmworld.com) initiative which included the 850MHz band.
• Presenting and promoting the benefits of the 850MHz ecosystem around the world at key events such as GSM Congress in Macau and Barcelona and GSM Latin America.
• Hosting of numerous interested operators in Australia to personally see the Next G™ network in operation.

Earlier this year the GSMA recognised the strong evolution of the 850MHz (www.gsmworld.com) ecosystem with more than 18 networks launched, accounting for more than 40% of all worldwide HSPA connections.

The ecosystem continues to grow strongly and in the past weeks Canada’s Telus and Bell, and Telecom New Zealand all announced they were joining the 850MHz ‘family’ and building new 3GSM networks upon recognising the superior characteristics of the 850MHz spectrum.

Building networks at this lower frequency has significant advantages derived from the greater distances travelled by wireless signals in this spectrum and also by their superior ability to propagate into buildings. To put it plainly, because of its extensive coverage, we can provide service to a larger area with fewer cell sites, which is great news for rural areas, while in the cities it provides better in-building penetration capability - useful in lifts and carparks - than higher frequencies.

So the secret of our success, it seems, is spreading. Operators around the world continue looking to Telstra’s decisions and experiences as one of the global leaders of technology innovation.