Boost, Virgin, Amaysim make 4G plans

Three mobile companies riding on the Optus network said they're planning 4G moves following Optus's announcement that it had launched 4G business services in Sydney and Perth. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) Virgin Mobile, Amaysim and Boost Mobile told Computerworld Australia that faster mobile data services are on the way.

"Boost are currently focused on finding 4G smartphones our customers will love to own and use, laden with features, at a price which is accessible," Boost Mobile CEO Paul O'Neile said in a written statement.

Amaysim doesn't have a set timeframe for rolling out 4G, but a spokesman said "it's something we'll offer customers in the not-too-distant future." Optus's national 4G rollout "will be a great development for customers and MVNOs on the network," he added.

Virgin is "currently working through our launch plans for 4G and will provide an update at a later date," a Virgin spokeswoman said. The company said last month that it planned to launch 4G services at the same time as Optus rolled out its 4G network.

The three top carriers with their own networks--Telstra, Optus and Vodafone--will all have or expect to have 4G services by the middle of 2013. Telstra has had 4G LTE services since September last year while Vodafone Hutchison Australia has announced plans to launch 4G early next year.

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