Vodafone launches new 4G modem, WiFi hotspot

Vodafone has caught up to Tesltra and Optus in adding mobile broadband modems to its 4G service, but the telco says they new dongles will deliver "lightning-fast data speeds" around Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

How fast? Up to 150Mbps in theory, which means a lot less in the real world of course – we'll let you know how they fare after we've gotten our mitts on the modems to run some tests.

Two bits of 4G kit are available, albeit only to postpaid contract customers rather than on the prepaid package that's popular with many travellers.

The Vodafone Mobile Broadband USB Stick is a conventional 4G USB modem for your Windows or Mac laptop or desktop, while the Vodafone Pocket WiFi (below) creates a portable 4G-to-WiFi hotspot capable of feeding up to 10 devices at once.

Prices start at $20 per month for 2.5GB of data and top out at $45 for a solid 8GB serve.

The add-on cost of the 4G mobile broadband devices ranges from $7 down to $3 per month depending on which device you want (the Pocket WiFi is a bit more expensive than the USB modem) and what plan you're on.

Here's how the plans break down.

Until April 2, Vodafone is offering a 15 percent discount for customers who purchase either the USB modem or Pocket WiFi device on their existing postpaid account.

Earlier this month Vodafone extended its $5 per day Red Roaming deal to China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan and Thailand, adding a welcome Asian footprint to the existing coverage of New Zealand, the USA, the UK and most countries in Europe.

Read: Vodafone extending $5/day roaming to Asia

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David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.