[AusNOG] Optus cellular voice/data at Hayman Island

[Kai]

I'm on VirginMobile, they use Optus cellular network.

I can get full signal at Hamilton Island so Optus either has a cellular repeater there or situated nicely on one of many hills in the area.
On Hayman I can get full signal when on the South East/South West oriented beach but there's not enough signal penetration to reach past the beachfront guest areas into the staff areas at the back.
Propagation and refraction over salt water works really well, especially at night there are reception pockets which are usually dead during the day.

If the peak envelope power can't legally be increased from the closest cellular repeater I could maybe put a femtocell high on the roof of the guest area and get coverage for the whole south facing part of the island, no problems.
500 or so permanent staff here, I don't have accurate numbers of those who would switch back to Optus if they could but listening to general comments around the place is that a lot of people including myself would love to have Optus here.

Interested to discuss privately with any Optus techs on list.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Grant Donnelly" 
To:"Tony" , "Kai" , "ausnog" 
Cc:
Sent:Fri, 15 May 2015 10:51:39 +1000
Subject:RE: [AusNOG] Hayman Island (was: Anyone need small cabinets?)

 The situation may have changed, but when the Optus femto cells were
rolled out (~2009), there was a geolocation requirement which meant
the cell had to be able to see one of their towers before they could
activate it. So if there are no Optus towers on Hayman, they are
unlikely to be able to roll out femto cells. Part of the reason for
this is that in different states the same spectrum is owned by
different carriers, so you are "not allowed" to just pick up a femto
cell and relocate it.

 I'd be interested to know if this has changed - anyone know?

 Grant.

 -----Original Message-----
 From: AusNOG [mailto:ausnog-bounces at lists.ausnog.net] On Behalf Of
Tony
 Sent: Friday, 15 May 2015 10:40 AM
 To: Kai; ausnog
 Subject: Re: [AusNOG] Hayman Island (was: Anyone need small
cabinets?)

 I'd hazard a guess and suggest backhaul is the problem and there
isn't enough population/business for anyone else to run something.
You'd also find that all of the locals would have a Telstra mobile (as
that is the only coverage choice there), so that anyone (ie. Optus)
wanting to build something would have almost zero user base to justify
it (I don't think the occasional tourist really counts that much).
Classical encumbent monopoly really.

 As someone else mentioned, it's no different from a lot of other
regional locations around the country where the Telstra mobile network
is your only option. You don't even have to go that "regional" for it
to be an issue. 

 regards,
 Tony.
 ________________________________
 From: Kai 
 To: ausnog  
 Sent: Thursday, 14 May 2015, 22:11
 Subject: Re: [AusNOG] Anyone need small cabinets?

 Apologies, should have mentioned it before.
 Location is Airlie Beach/Hayman Island.

 Also, Telstra is the only carrier on Hayman for mobile coverage, if
any Optus people can contact me for requirements/logistics for
cellular coverage here, possibly even a femtocell, the staff and
guests would love the reception!

 Cheers
 Kai
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