Vodafone Australia

VHA was created on 10 June 2009, after shareholders and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission approved a merger between Hutchison Telecommunications Australia{{Cite web|date=2009-05-04|title=Vodafone, Hutchison merger faces hurdle|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/vodafone-hutchison-merger-faces-hurdle-20090504-as4l.html|access-date=2020-08-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} (owner of the Three network) and Vodafone Australia.

During the merger, Vodafone Hutchison Australia announced it would buy out its Vodafone branded stores, previously run by the retail management groups Digicall, First Mobile, Inside Mobile and GSM. The new retail structure lifted VHA's current headcount by 1,400 to 5,100 staff, and added over 170 stores. Three-branded stores were already owned by VHA.{{Cite web|title=New Vodafone-Hutchinson telco to take retail stores in-house|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/308224/new_vodafone-hutchinson_telco_take_retail_stores_in-house/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=ARN}}

Before the merger with 3:

• Vodafone Group plc owned Vodafone Australia Limited (which runs the Vodafone network)
• Hutchison Whampoa owned 52% of Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited, which owned Hutchison 3G Australia ("H3GA") (which operated the 3 network)

After the merger, Hutchison 3G Australia was renamed Vodafone Hutchison Australia, and 50% was sold to Vodafone Group.{{Cite web|title=About Hutchison - Hutchison Australia|url=https://www.hutchison.com.au/about-hutchison/|access-date=2020-08-10|language=en-US}}

The merger created Australia's third largest mobile telecommunications provider behind Telstra and Optus (27% market share){{Cite web|title=Vodafone Australia|url=https://halberdbastion.com/intelligence/mobile-networks/vodafone-australia|access-date=2020-08-10|website=halberdbastion.com|language=en}}

Between 2009 and 2012 VHA experienced a series of major failures on their mobile network - 'Vodafail'.{{Cite web|last=LeMay|first=Renai|title=Vodafail founder meets Vodafone CEO|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vodafail-founder-meets-vodafone-ceo/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=ZDNet|language=en}} (a term used widely in the media and by users on social media networks to describe the outages) predominantly caused by a lack of backhaul capacity between the Mobile Towers and the main central Exchanges being overloaded. More than two million customers left VHA over the period from 2010 to 2013.

VHA began phasing out the 3 brand in mid-2011, with the 3 network was shut down completely on 30 August 2013.{{Cite web|title=Vodafone Shutting Down 3 For Good|url=https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/News/vodafone-shutting-down-3-for-good|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.whistleout.com.au|date=5 June 2013 |language=en}}

On 30 August 2018 VHA announced plans to merge with TPG, the second-largest internet service provider in Australia, with Vodafone Group and Hutchison Telecommunications Australia to own a combined 50.1% of the combined group and TPG shareholders the remaining 49.9%.{{Cite web|date=2018-08-29|title=Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom agree on $15b merger|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/vodafone-hutchison-australia-and-tpg-telecom-agree-on-15b-merger-20180830-h14pl0|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}

In December 2018, the merger plans were called into question by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, which expressed 'concerns' regarding a potential reduction in competition if the merger were to proceed. In particular, the regulator signalled its concern that the merger would essentially remove Vodafone from the fixed-line broadband market and remove TPG (an 'aggressive' low-cost competitor) from the mobile market.{{Cite web|last=Commission|first=Australian Competition and Consumer|date=2018-12-13|title=Concerns about proposed merger between TPG and Vodafone|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/concerns-about-proposed-merger-between-tpg-and-vodafone|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Australian Competition & Consumer Commission|language=en}} This ultimately led the ACCC to block the proposal in May 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-05-08|title=ACCC blocks Vodafone, TPG merger|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/accc-blocks-vodafone-tpg-merger-20190508-p51lcl|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}

The ACCC's decision was overturned by the Federal Court of Australia in February 2020,{{Cite web|title=When three is better than four: Federal Court approves TPG / Vodafone merger|url=https://www.ashurst.com/en/news-and-insights/legal-updates/competition-law-newsletter-february-2020/cn15-when-three-is-better-than-four-federal-court-approves-tpg-vodafone-merger/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.ashurst.com|language=en}} giving TPG and VHA permission to merge as planned. The Court ruled that TPG no longer held ambitions to enter the Australian mobile market with its own infrastructure, with the merger therefore not likely to reduce competition levels in the market.

TPG Telecom Limited, formerly named Vodafone Hutchison Australia Limited, was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 30 June 2020.{{Cite web|title=TPG share price and company information for ASX:TPG|url=https://www2.asx.com.au/content/asx/company.TPG.html|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Australian Securities Exchange|language=en-US}}

The Vodafone 2G and 3G (2100/900 MHz) networks originally operated as a single network, separate to the Three network. Vodafone first entered the Australian market in 1992 when it was awarded the third mobile network operator license in Australia in December that year.{{Cite web|last=Dickerson|first=Mathew|date=2020-07-30|title=Cheers to more than 30 years for our mobile phone network|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6857507/cheers-to-more-than-30-years-for-our-mobile-phone-network/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Newcastle Herald|language=en}} Vodafone Australia then launched its 2G GSM mobile network in October 1993.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MOBILE SERVICES REVIEW 2003 An ACCC Discussion Paper|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Discussion%20paper%20-%20Mobile%20services%20review%20-%20April%202003.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

During the 2009 merger, VHA had made no comment on their intention to combine the Three and Vodafone networks, or offer roaming between them.{{Cite web|title=ACCC approves Vodafone-3 merger|url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/accc-approves-vodafone-3-merger-146360|access-date=2020-08-10|website=iTnews}} As of late-2009 however, roaming onto the Vodafone's 2G network had been enabled for Three customers in areas that had limited 3G coverage{{Cite web|title=3 customers roam to Voda 3G|url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/3-customers-roam-to-voda-3g-293171|access-date=2020-08-10|website=iTnews}} (e.g. blackspots).

In late 2010, VHA announced plans to consolidate the Three and Vodafone networks,{{Cite web|title=VHA inks seven-year network outsourcing deal|url=https://www.itnews.com.au/news/vha-inks-seven-year-network-outsourcing-deal-173946|access-date=2020-08-10|website=iTnews}} in an attempt to better compete with Telstra's Next G network. The plan included the expansion of UMTS 900/2100 MHz coverage in 900 metropolitan sites and 500 outer metropolitan sites across Australia, an end to the 3GIS network (3's UMTS 2100 MHz network, which it has a 50% stake with, the other 50% being held by Telstra).

Three operated a 2100 MHz 3G network in a 50/50 partnership with Telstra, which covered approximately 56% of Australia's population across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Geelong, Frankston and Wollongong.

In areas not covered by the joint 3G network, customers were able to roam on Telstra's Next G 850 MHz 3G network, and Telstra's 900 MHz and 1800 MHz 2G networks. This agreement allowed Three to offer coverage to up to 96% of the population. This network, and with it the final links to the Three network from an infrastructure perspective, was shut down on 31 August 2012 following the termination of the network sharing agreement.{{Cite web|title=iTWire - End of the affair: Telstra and VHA end 3G network sharing venture|url=https://www.itwire.com/strategy/42595-end-of-the-affair-telstra-and-vha-end-3g-network-sharing-venture.html|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.itwire.com|language=en-gb}}

Vodafone's 4G 1800 MHz rollout commenced with 20 MHz of bandwidth in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle and Wollongong on 12 June 2013.{{Cite web|title=Australian Internet Security Initiative - ACMA|url=https://www.acma.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-08/ACMA%20Communications%20report%202015-16%20docx.docx|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

Vodafone rolled out 4G 850 MHz by refarming 5 MHz of their 3G spectrum in capital cities covering 95% of Australia's metro population in 2014,{{Cite web|title=Vodafone makes its next move on 4G|url=https://www.vodafone.com.au/media/next-move-on-4g/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Media Centre {{!}} Vodafone Australia|language=en}} and enabled carrier aggregation on both their 4G bands.

In April 2017, Vodafone was a successful bidder for 4G spectrum on the 700 MHz band at auction.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Submission to the Department of Communications and the Arts on the Exposure Draft Radiocommunications (Spectrum Licence Allocation—Residual 700 MHz Band One) Direction 2016|url=https://www.communications.gov.au/sites/default/files/submissions/submission--vha-proposal-acquire-unsold-700mhz-spectrum--telstra.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

Vodafone's 5G NR network is coming to areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth from mid-2020 with a plan of expansion to more than 650 sites progressively going live from mid-2020{{Cite web|title=The Vodafone 5G network|url=https://www.vodafone.com.au/support/network/5g|access-date=2023-08-10|website=Vodafone Australia|language=en}}

Vodafone's key products and services include:

Mobile voice and data is Vodafone's core business. Its mobile network operates on the following frequencies:{{Cite web|last=Whirlpool|title=Australian Mobile Network Frequencies|url=https://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/mobile_phone_frequencies|access-date=2022-09-22|website=whirlpool.net.au|language=en}}

• 4G LTE-A,VoLTE 700(B28)/850(B5)/1800(B3)/2100(B1) MHz
• 5G NR 700(n28)/850(n5)/1800(n3)/2100(n1)/3500(n78) MHz, 26(n258) GHz

Vodafone offers broadband plans and bundles via the National Broadband Network, marketed as Vodafone nbn.{{Cite web|title=Vodafone nbn™ plans.|url=https://www.vodafone.com.au/nbn|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Vodafone Australia|language=en}} These services were launched in December 2017 as the first fixed-line product offered by Vodafone in Australia.{{Cite web|last=Rowl|first=Chris|date=2017-12-03|title=Vodafone launches NBN service with Instant Connect and 4G back-up|url=https://ausdroid.net/2017/12/04/vodafone-launches-nbn-service-instant-connect-4g-back/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Ausdroid|language=en-AU}}

Vodafone offers a customer support desk for IoT terminals and connectivity. It is an end-to-end service with a single contract for hardware, connectivity and shipment{{Cite web|title=Internet Of Things|url=https://www.vodafone.com.au/business/internet-of-things|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Vodafone Australia|language=en}}

Vodafone TV™ is Vodafone's smart TV box powered by Android TV. It provides access to thousands of movies, shows and games from Google Play, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime and other popular apps.{{Cite web|title=Vodafone TV™.|url=https://www.vodafone.com.au/vodafone-tv|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Vodafone Australia|language=en}}

File:Craig Lowndes Ipswich 2012.JPG]]

Vodafone has been involved in a variety of sports sponsorships in Australia. From 1998 to 2004 Vodafone was the shirt sponsor for the Australian national rugby union team, the Wallabies.{{Cite web|date=2004-02-24|title=Vodafone hang up on Wallabies|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/vodafone-hang-up-on-wallabies-20040224-gdif76.html|access-date=2020-08-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

In 2010, Vodafone replaced Three as the shirt sponsor of the Australian national cricket team.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Julian|date=2012-06-07|title=Vodafone dumps cricket, motorsport sponsorship|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/vodafone-dumps-cricket-motorsport-sponsorship-20120607-1zyim.html|access-date=2020-08-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

Vodafone was the naming rights sponsor of Triple Eight Race Engineering in V8 Supercars from 2007 to 2012.{{Cite web|title=Triple Eight to be named TeamVodafone in 2007|url=https://www.motorsport.com/v8supercars/news/triple-eight-to-be-named-teamvodafone-in-2007/237061/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en}} The same year Vodafone terminated its cricket and motorsport sponsorships with the money saved reinvested into improving their mobile network and customer service.{{Cite web|title=Subscribe to The Australian {{!}} Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fsport%2Fvodafone-quits-sport-to-improve-bottom-line%2Fnews-story%2Fd2d788fdb6cc0868c46495cb5020a0cc&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=5f92e16c6adceb1a4dc198b0d8d3f9b7-1597045934|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.theaustralian.com.au}}

In 2015, Vodafone and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research launched Dreamlab,{{Cite web|date=2015-11-09|title=App creates 'smartphone supercomputer' to cure cancer|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-09/smartphone-app-dreamlab-helps-find-cure-for-cancer/6923452|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}} an app that allows users to perform tasks for Garvan's cancer projects by pooling their smartphones' computing power. The app is free and is available on both the iPhone App Store and Google Play.

In 2017, Vodafone made a return to sports sponsorship in Australia, becoming the title sponsor of Super Rugby within Australia.{{Cite web|date=2017-02-13|title=Vodafone returns to sponsor Super Rugby in Australia|url=https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/news/vodafone-returns-to-sponsor-super-rugby-in-australia/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=SportBusiness Sponsorship|language=en-GB}} In motorsport, Vodafone sponsored a BMW M6 GT3 in the 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour{{Cite web|date=2016-10-13|title=Bathurst 12 Hour: Mark Skaife, Russell Ingall to race BMW in 2017 event|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/bathurst-12-hour-mark-skaife-russell-ingall-to-race-bmw-in-2017-event/news-story/fae0f99c8ed64f24104b83418dd884c1|access-date=2020-08-10|website=Fox Sports|language=en-AU}} and reunited with Triple Eight Race Engineering for the 2019 event as the primary sponsor of the team's Mercedes-AMG GT3.{{Cite web|title=All-star line-up for Triple Eight Mercedes in Bathurst 12 Hour|url=https://www.motorsport.com/endurance/news/bathurst-lowndes-whincup-gisbergen-mercedes/3214531/|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en}} Within Supercars, it became title sponsor of the safety car and the Gold Coast 600.

In 2020, Vodafone signed on as naming rights partner for Australia national cricket team home tests, including scheduled tours by heavyweights India and England. Vodafone also signed on as a partner of the Australia women's national cricket team and the Women's Big Bash League.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-02|title=CA partners with Vodafone for Aussie summer|url =https://www.cricket.com.au/news/cricket-australia-ceo-nick-hockley-announces-vodafone-men-team-sponsorship-deal/2020-09-02|website=www.cricket.com.au}}

• Internet in Australia
• Telecommunications in Australia

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|www.vodafone.com.au}}
• [https://www.inaustralia.org/2023/05/Vodafone-Long-Expiry-Prepaid-Plans-Australia.html Maximize Your Value: Vodafone's Long Expiry Prepaid Plans in Australia]

{{Vodafone}}

{{Australian mobile phone companies}}

{{Internet service providers of Australia}}

Category:Vodafone

Category:Australian companies established in 1992

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1992

Category:Telecommunications companies of Australia

Category:Mobile phone companies of Australia

Category:Internet service providers of Australia

Category:2009 mergers and acquisitions