Vodafone Australia plans to launch 5G services in time for the technology's commercialization in 2020, and plans to make laying the groundwork for the launch a key priority for the year ahead.
In an interview with Fairfax Media, Vodafone Hutchison Australia CEO Inaki Berroeta said the company's other core priorities will be improving customer satisfaction and launching tailored mobile plans.
The company's 2020 plan has been approved by joint owners Vodafone and Hutchison Whampoa, and plans to maintain its focus on upgrading and improving its infrastructure in Australia.
Berroeta's personal priorities include reducing customer complaint levels by increasing automation and preparing for the mass adoption of the National Broadband Network (NBN).
He expects 2018 to be a turning point for the broadband market in Australia as the NBN expands to reach around 10 million households nationwide.
Vodafone is open to the possibility of partnering with TPG Telecom, which already provides fiber for the operator's mobile towers, to provide fixed line broadband services over the TPG network. This would put the operator partly in competition with the NBN.