TELSTRA today unveiled a new strategy to support Australia's love affair with mobile technology.
That strategy will include a second wireless frequency on its 4G network in rural areas which Telstra hopes will improve signal range and depth.
Telstra chief operations officer Brendon Riley said Telstra was looking at new ways to plan for the ongoing surge in mobile data traffic on its networks, with Telstra customers expected to use as much mobile data in 2013 as they did in the past two years combined.
More than half of all Australians now own a smartphone - up from 32 per cent in 2010 and were increasingly using them not just for work but for entertainment too.
"Today, more than 70 per cent of our customers use their smartphone to watch video content, with YouTube, music videos and movie trailers proving most popular,'' Mr Riley said.
"Were also seeing a huge increase in the number of people using their smartphone as their primary tool for searching and social networking, ahead of a traditional PC.
"In fact, the average Australian now spends a record 12 hours per week accessing the internet on a smartphone or tablet device.''
The strategy is part of Telstra's $1.2 billion wireless network investment for 2012-13 which will include trialling and introducing advanced technology across the country.
Telstra is also trialling the next generation of wireless 4G technology, known as LTE-Advanced with plans to introduce it later this year in areas with heavy traffic demand over a greater distance.
