Traffic demand during the New Year’s Eve can break the back of a phone operator. That explains why Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) Australian unit and Telstra Corporation Ltd (OTCMKTS:TLSYY) are touting their preparedness to deal with the challenge in New Year Eve Resolutions.
Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) Australia predicts 3.2 million text messages to flow through its channels per hour between the midnight and early morning of January 1, 2016. That will be more than double the amount of text messages Vodafone Australia carried in the same period last year. On its part, Telstra is preparing to 39 million cellular calls during the New Year’s Eve.
Despite the anticipated strong demand for wireless services in the New Year, the two carriers believe they are equal to the task and their subscribers should just relax and enjoy their lives.
Plans in Vodafone’s corner
With 3.2 million text messages per hour expected to flow through its infrastructure in the initial hours of 2016, Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) will somehow be putting its recent investments to test. The company has spent the last 12 months investing in network coverage and quality improvements, including 4G and Wi-Fi hotspot. Vodafone Australia’s 4G network now covers 96% of the Australian urban population.
Besides a dramatic surge in text messaging, Vodafone Group Plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:VOD) also anticipates a sharp increase in voice and data traffic demand.
According to the carrier’s CTO, Benoit Hanssen, they will be deploying portable cells in addition to traditional infrastructure to deal with the surge in traffic during the New Year’s Eve. Moreover, the company will be having its engineers monitoring traffic flow trends and adjusting systems accordingly to cater to regions with the strongest demand.
What is Telstra cooking for the New Year’s Eve?
Just like rival Vodafone, Telstra Corporation Ltd (OTCMKTS:TLSYY) is leaving nothing to chances in the New Year’s Eve. The carrier is preparing to process 57 million text messages, 39 million mobile voice calls and 900,000 GB data download demand in the initial hours of 2016.
First, Telstra’s engineers will be on high alert to ensure that nothing in the network spoils the party for their subscribers. Second, Telstra has what it calls Sydney NYE Telstra App, which allows subscribers to upload their New Year messages in advance for the carrier to deliver free of charge at midnight. According to Telstra, the app is expected to help it predict traffic demand for all its other services during the New Year’s Eve.
Telstra Corporation Ltd (OTCMKTS:TLSYY) will also use Wi-Fi hotspots to address its New Year’s Eve traffic demand, and the management hopes everything will flow smoothly.
Sources: zdnet
