Next G, which is Telstra's label for 3G, covers 99% of Australia's population and delivers downlink rates at 14.4 Mbps, although the entire network is being upgraded now to 21 Mbps. Trujillo expects the network will deliver speeds of 42 Mbps around the end of 2009. Next G is based on HSPA technology, similar to the technology utilized by AT&T in the United States on its 850-MHz network. As a former chairperson of US West and later chairman of Orange in Europe, Trujillo has a unique perspective on the world's wireless networks, including their failures and successes. An education application that can be a forerunner of additional educational applications has already been developed. A brace of cameras -- some underwater -- have been deployed around Australia's Great Barrier Reef, giving many disadvantaged children their first opportunity to experience and see the reef in a close-up, real-time manner.

Next G has some innate advantages over most global wireless networks that have seen their various components separated from each other. For instance, rather than selling off yellow pages business directories, Telstra has kept them to beef up a variety of content features for users. Its BigPond offering delivers news, and its Foxtel operation delivers a variety of video offerings.

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