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IMPORTANT
Please upgrade your Cel-FI products via the WAVE App if boosting Vodafone or Optus

Summary
Recently Vodafone and Optus announced an agreement where Optus would share its regional towers with Vodafone, enabling Vodafone customers to get far greater coverage in regional areas.  Only Optus towers outside of metro areas will be shared.

What does this mean for Cel-Fi for Vodafone products?
Cel-Fi products use unique software to only relay a mobile operators signal based on the PLMN-ID (mobile network code) and also the EARFCN (channel numbers within the frequency band). Under the new agreement, Optus Regional Towers with now also broadcast a Vodafone PLMN-ID on Optus channel numbers. As a result Cel-Fi products for Vodafone will need to be upgraded to support the new channel numbers.
Vodafone products will also benefit from 5G bands being enabled (except for R41)

What does this mean for Cel-Fi products for Optus and Telstra?
Optus products will benefit from more 5G bands being enabled (except for R41)
Telstra products will not change

Products Affected
The products below will need to be updated:
GO G41-JE
GO G41-NE
GO G51
ROAM R41
QUATRA EVO
QUATRA 4000e

What will happen if I don’t upgrade my Cel-Fi?
Many Vodafone towers in regional areas will cease to operate and customers will now receive signal just from an Optus tower. Your Cel-FI for Vodafone unit will need the update to add new channels and also may need the external donor antenna realigned if the Optus tower is in a different location than the previously Vodafone tower.

Without the update the unit may not relay the signal and continuously search for the network. If this is the case the unit may perform a full band scan to look for the new channels, but we highly recommend you perform a software update so all future channels are added and you don’t lose connectivity.

How to Upgrade your Cel-Fi
Using the Cel-Fi WAVE App on your phone (available on the app store), perform a software update under the system settings page. If your system is up to date, then the software update has automatically been performed.

How do I check and realign my external donor antenna if I’m a Vodafone customer?
After performing the software update check your signal strength and quality in the Cel-Fi WAVE App, if ‘Good’ then you may not need an antenna realignment.

If using a directional style antenna like an LPDA, our sales team can perform a desktop site survey to check the direction your antenna should be pointing and provide you with a report. Email sales@powertec.com.au with your address or GPS coordinates. They may provide two options depending on the location.

We recommend antenna alignments be carried out by a Cel-Fi approved installer.

Can phones on both Optus and Vodafone benefit from a Cel-Fi for Optus?
Yes in regional areas only (when you are connected to a tower under the sharing agreement), if you have Cel-Fi product set to relay Optus, then both Optus or Vodafone phones will benefit from the relayed signal from the Cel-Fi.
In metro areas (tower not included in the sharing agreement) Vodafone phones will not benefit from a Cel-Fi set to relay Optus.

Further Questions
If you require further information, please contact your Cel-Fi reseller or email support@powertec.com.au