FED: Closure of CDMA network not yet finalised

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2008
FED: Closure of CDMA network not yet finalised

By Karlis Salna

CANBERRA, April 10 AAP - The closure of Telstra's CDMA network could again be put on
hold amid concerns regional customers are still being left out of the loop.

Telstra was told in January to delay closure of the CDMA network by three months because
the performance of the Next G platform in the bush was not up to scratch.

The CDMA network was originally due be closed on January 28 but Communications Minister
Stephen Conroy ordered the telco to report back to him by April 28 before any shutdown
could proceed.

With the decision on whether to proceed with the shutdown imminent, the federal opposition
and farmers say efforts must be taken to ensure regional customers are not left without
coverage.

Liberal senator Simon Birmingham is calling for the switchover to be put on hold, saying
there are still issues relating to poor network coverage and reports of customers having
problems swapping to Next G compatible handsets.

"The extent of concerns makes it clear that the transition to Next G has not been an
easy one, and that many people are still not receiving equivalent coverage," Senator Birmingham
said.

"There are enough examples of people being able to make calls on the CDMA network but
not on the Next G network from the same location to suggest there is more work to be done
before it is safe to switch off CDMA."

Effective mobile phone services were particularly critical in regional, rural and remote
communities where pay phones were few and far between, Senator Birmingham said.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF), while not suggesting there should be a further
delay in closing the CDMA network, said there were problems with customers being sold
handsets that were unsuitable for Next G.

"We haven't gone to the stage of calling for another extension. We just want these
current issues fixed."

Senator Conroy said a final decision on whether to close the CDMA network had not yet been made.

"Telstra has submitted a report to (the) government detailing measures taken to ensure
equivalence between CDMA and Next G," he said.

"I am considering the report and will make my next decision as soon as practicable."

He said CDMA closure would depend on him being satisfied that Telstra had comprehensively
addressed the identified problems.

AAP kms/sb/apm/cdh

KEYWORD: CDMA

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