Once 700Mhz services are working, Optus claims regional users will have a "faster and more consistent mobile internet experience".
Optus has activated its 2600MHz 4G service in 40 regional centres, with 700MHz service to come soon in another 200 locations.
The first 40 towns and cities to get 2600MHz 4G service from Optus are:
New South Wales
- Albury
- Armidale
- Batemans Bay
- Galong
- Coffs Harbour
- Cootamundra
- Dubbo
- Goulburn
- Macksville
- Nambucca Heads
- Narooma
- Orange
- Port Macquarie
- Suffolk Park
- Towrang
- Urunga
- Wagga Wagga
Queensland
- Cannonvale
- Cairns
- Gooburrum
- Innisfail
- Proserpine
- Rockhampton
- Toowoomba
- Torbanlea
- Yeppoon
South Australia
- Ceduna
- Littlehampton
- Minnipa
- Murray Bridge
- Port Augusta
- Wirrulla
Victoria
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Glenorchy
- Maffra
- Newborough
- Traralgon
- Wangaratta West
- Waygara
- Wodonga
While the 700MHz spectrum isn't due to become generally available until January 2015, Optus has received early access licence approvals from the Australian Communications and Media Authority covering 200 regional locations.
"Already we have turned on our first 4G [2600MHz] sites in more than 40 towns and will continue to light up 4G on both 2600MHz and 700MHz spectrum, as it becomes available," said Optus Networks managing director, Vic McClelland.
Mr McClelland said, "Early access licenses for 700MHz spectrum give Optus the option to turn on 4G earlier than anticipated in many regional and holiday locations."
Optus already provides 700MHz 4G service in various locations including Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Nowra, Port Macquarie and Urunga (New South Wales), Darwin (Northern Territory), Bundaberg and Toowoomba (Queensland), Murray Bridge (South Australia), and Ballarat and Bendigo (Victoria).
Coverage maps - including extensions planned during the next three and six months - are available on the Optus web site.
Not all 4G phones support 700MHz. According to Optus, those that do include the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G3, Sony Xperia Z3 and HTC One (M8).
Optus plans to provide 4G coverage to 90% of the Australian population by April 2015.
