After months of public and political debate, Telstra's CDMA mobile phone
network was switched off in the early hours of Tuesday morning with barely a
whimper.
According to Telstra, the shutdown occurred without any problems.
"The switch off went to plan with no incidents reported from the very few
customers that were still connected to the old CDMA network," Telstra
spokesman Peter Taylor said.
"While the past few days have been very busy in our shops and dealers, the
vast majority of CDMA customers made the move to the Next G network many
months ago with the new network already boasting hundreds of thousands more
customers than CDMA ever did."
A spokeswoman for the Consumers' Telecommunications Network said they had
not received any calls of complaint since the network's closure.
"We haven't received any calls today," the spokeswoman said.
She added that they had received a high number of calls leading up to the
original January 28 shutdown, but that this had reduced to a trickle in the
past two weeks.
"I think most were suffering from consumer complaint fatigue, given the
resigned tone of those calls," the spokeswoman said.
"Most people were hoping against hope that it wouldn't close."
Telstra Country Wide director Gary Goldsworthy said the telco was now
focused on the decommissioning of approximately 3,500 CDMA sites across
Australia and the removal of redundant equipment.
"The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its use
by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
"Our technicians will therefore be removing old CDMA equipment and anything
of value will be reused, sold or recycled."
CDMA customers are being reminded that have until the end of May if they
wish transfer their old mobile phone number to a Next G service.
Telstra said it will continue to operate the 1800 888 888 support line for
any customers with any concerns with their new Next G handsets.
It sure did go well. Congratulations to GG and all the others at the GOC
"Alan Parkington" <patriot@iheartaustralia.com.au> wrote in message
news:NWaUj.8343$ko5.2734@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> from
> http://news.theage.com.au/cdma-netwo...0429-2995.html
>
> After months of public and political debate, Telstra's CDMA mobile phone
> network was switched off in the early hours of Tuesday morning with barely
> a whimper.
>
> According to Telstra, the shutdown occurred without any problems.
>
> "The switch off went to plan with no incidents reported from the very few
> customers that were still connected to the old CDMA network," Telstra
> spokesman Peter Taylor said.
>
> "While the past few days have been very busy in our shops and dealers, the
> vast majority of CDMA customers made the move to the Next G network many
> months ago with the new network already boasting hundreds of thousands
> more customers than CDMA ever did."
>
> A spokeswoman for the Consumers' Telecommunications Network said they had
> not received any calls of complaint since the network's closure.
>
> "We haven't received any calls today," the spokeswoman said.
>
> She added that they had received a high number of calls leading up to the
> original January 28 shutdown, but that this had reduced to a trickle in
> the past two weeks.
>
> "I think most were suffering from consumer complaint fatigue, given the
> resigned tone of those calls," the spokeswoman said.
>
> "Most people were hoping against hope that it wouldn't close."
>
> Telstra Country Wide director Gary Goldsworthy said the telco was now
> focused on the decommissioning of approximately 3,500 CDMA sites across
> Australia and the removal of redundant equipment.
>
> "The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its
> use by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
>
> "Our technicians will therefore be removing old CDMA equipment and
> anything of value will be reused, sold or recycled."
>
> CDMA customers are being reminded that have until the end of May if they
> wish transfer their old mobile phone number to a Next G service.
>
> Telstra said it will continue to operate the 1800 888 888 support line for
> any customers with any concerns with their new Next G handsets.
On Wed, 07 May 2008 05:16:29 +0000, Alan Parkington wrote:
> from
> http://news.theage.com.au/cdma-network-no-longer-
ringing/20080429-2995.html
>
> After months of public and political debate, Telstra's CDMA mobile phone
> network was switched off in the early hours of Tuesday morning with
> barely a whimper.
>
> According to Telstra, the shutdown occurred without any problems.
>
> "The switch off went to plan with no incidents reported from the very
> few customers that were still connected to the old CDMA network,"
> Telstra spokesman Peter Taylor said.
>
> "While the past few days have been very busy in our shops and dealers,
> the vast majority of CDMA customers made the move to the Next G network
> many months ago with the new network already boasting hundreds of
> thousands more customers than CDMA ever did."
>
> A spokeswoman for the Consumers' Telecommunications Network said they
> had not received any calls of complaint since the network's closure.
>
> "We haven't received any calls today," the spokeswoman said.
Their phones don't work any more and there aren't any phone boxes left in
rural areas, and nobody's called to complain? What a surprise!
> She added that they had received a high number of calls leading up to
> the original January 28 shutdown, but that this had reduced to a trickle
> in the past two weeks.
And the trickle stopped when their phones stopped working? How weird.
> "I think most were suffering from consumer complaint fatigue, given the
> resigned tone of those calls," the spokeswoman said.
Tel$cum customer service fatigue, more likely. After you've spent half an
hour trying to explain what you want to a stupid computer, and then
listened to some crap music with advertising every few seconds for
another half an hour, it does get a bit fatiguing.
> "Most people were hoping against hope that it wouldn't close."
>
> Telstra Country Wide director Gary Goldsworthy said the telco was now
> focused on the decommissioning of approximately 3,500 CDMA sites across
> Australia and the removal of redundant equipment.
>
> "The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its
> use by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
>
> "Our technicians will therefore be removing old CDMA equipment and
> anything of value will be reused, sold or recycled."
>
> CDMA customers are being reminded that have until the end of May if they
> wish transfer their old mobile phone number to a Next G service.
>
> Telstra said it will continue to operate the 1800 888 888 support line
> for any customers with any concerns with their new Next G handsets.
Do they get many calls from people complaining that they can't call to
complain cos their phone doesn't work and there's no phoneboxes?
On Wed, 07 May 2008 15:16:29 in aus.comms.mobile Alan Parkington may have written:
> "The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its use
> by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
Did we buy second hand equipment from somewhere? Because it was only
installed in Australia 9 years ago...
Paul Day wrote:
> On Wed, 07 May 2008 15:16:29 in aus.comms.mobile Alan Parkington may have written:
>> "The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its use
>> by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
>
> Did we buy second hand equipment from somewhere? Because it was only
> installed in Australia 9 years ago...
>
> PD
>
A lot of the gear was in place well before the network was open for
customers.
"Will Kemp" <Will@xxxx.Swaggie.net> wrote in message
news:C1cUj.8553$WA5.1779@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
> On Wed, 07 May 2008 05:16:29 +0000, Alan Parkington wrote:
>
>> from
>> http://news.theage.com.au/cdma-network-no-longer-
> ringing/20080429-2995.html
>>
>> After months of public and political debate, Telstra's CDMA mobile phone
>> network was switched off in the early hours of Tuesday morning with
>> barely a whimper.
>>
>> According to Telstra, the shutdown occurred without any problems.
>>
>> "The switch off went to plan with no incidents reported from the very
>> few customers that were still connected to the old CDMA network,"
>> Telstra spokesman Peter Taylor said.
>>
>> "While the past few days have been very busy in our shops and dealers,
>> the vast majority of CDMA customers made the move to the Next G network
>> many months ago with the new network already boasting hundreds of
>> thousands more customers than CDMA ever did."
>>
>> A spokeswoman for the Consumers' Telecommunications Network said they
>> had not received any calls of complaint since the network's closure.
>>
>> "We haven't received any calls today," the spokeswoman said.
>
> Their phones don't work any more and there aren't any phone boxes left in
> rural areas, and nobody's called to complain? What a surprise!
>
>> She added that they had received a high number of calls leading up to
>> the original January 28 shutdown, but that this had reduced to a trickle
>> in the past two weeks.
>
> And the trickle stopped when their phones stopped working? How weird.
>
>> "I think most were suffering from consumer complaint fatigue, given the
>> resigned tone of those calls," the spokeswoman said.
>
> Tel$cum customer service fatigue, more likely. After you've spent half an
> hour trying to explain what you want to a stupid computer, and then
> listened to some crap music with advertising every few seconds for
> another half an hour, it does get a bit fatiguing.
>
>> "Most people were hoping against hope that it wouldn't close."
>>
>> Telstra Country Wide director Gary Goldsworthy said the telco was now
>> focused on the decommissioning of approximately 3,500 CDMA sites across
>> Australia and the removal of redundant equipment.
>>
>> "The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its
>> use by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
>>
>> "Our technicians will therefore be removing old CDMA equipment and
>> anything of value will be reused, sold or recycled."
>>
>> CDMA customers are being reminded that have until the end of May if they
>> wish transfer their old mobile phone number to a Next G service.
>>
>> Telstra said it will continue to operate the 1800 888 888 support line
>> for any customers with any concerns with their new Next G handsets.
>
> Do they get many calls from people complaining that they can't call to
> complain cos their phone doesn't work and there's no phoneboxes?
>
"Paul Day" <pauls@enigma.id.au> wrote in message
news:1210143256.29726@colossus.enigma.id.au...
> On Wed, 07 May 2008 15:16:29 in aus.comms.mobile Alan Parkington may have
> written:
>> "The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its
>> use
>> by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
>
> Did we buy second hand equipment from somewhere? Because it was only
> installed in Australia 9 years ago...
It's a bit of a ridiculous comment from Telstra, by their definition the GSM
network (15 years old) would be crumbling into dust
>
> PD
>
> --
> Paul Day
> http://www.enigma.id.au/
Alan Parkington wrote:
> from
> http://news.theage.com.au/cdma-netwo...0429-2995.html
>
> After months of public and political debate, Telstra's CDMA mobile phone
> network was switched off in the early hours of Tuesday morning with
> barely a whimper.
>
> According to Telstra, the shutdown occurred without any problems.
What were they anticipating? Did they think the network might have been
possessed (perhaps by the lingering spirit of the old analogue network)
and that it might have refused to switch off?
On Wed, 07 May 2008 09:24:54 +0000, Michael wrote:
> Kemp, youre a fuckwit.
>
> End of story
Thank you. If *you* think i'm a fuckwit, then i must be on the right
track!
> "Will Kemp" <Will@xxxx.Swaggie.net> wrote in message
> news:C1cUj.8553$WA5.1779@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
>> On Wed, 07 May 2008 05:16:29 +0000, Alan Parkington wrote:
>>
>>> from
>>> http://news.theage.com.au/cdma-network-no-longer-
>> ringing/20080429-2995.html
>>>
>>> After months of public and political debate, Telstra's CDMA mobile
>>> phone network was switched off in the early hours of Tuesday morning
>>> with barely a whimper.
>>>
>>> According to Telstra, the shutdown occurred without any problems.
>>>
>>> "The switch off went to plan with no incidents reported from the very
>>> few customers that were still connected to the old CDMA network,"
>>> Telstra spokesman Peter Taylor said.
>>>
>>> "While the past few days have been very busy in our shops and dealers,
>>> the vast majority of CDMA customers made the move to the Next G
>>> network many months ago with the new network already boasting hundreds
>>> of thousands more customers than CDMA ever did."
>>>
>>> A spokeswoman for the Consumers' Telecommunications Network said they
>>> had not received any calls of complaint since the network's closure.
>>>
>>> "We haven't received any calls today," the spokeswoman said.
>>
>> Their phones don't work any more and there aren't any phone boxes left
>> in rural areas, and nobody's called to complain? What a surprise!
>>
>>> She added that they had received a high number of calls leading up to
>>> the original January 28 shutdown, but that this had reduced to a
>>> trickle in the past two weeks.
>>
>> And the trickle stopped when their phones stopped working? How weird.
>>
>>> "I think most were suffering from consumer complaint fatigue, given
>>> the resigned tone of those calls," the spokeswoman said.
>>
>> Tel$cum customer service fatigue, more likely. After you've spent half
>> an hour trying to explain what you want to a stupid computer, and then
>> listened to some crap music with advertising every few seconds for
>> another half an hour, it does get a bit fatiguing.
>>
>>> "Most people were hoping against hope that it wouldn't close."
>>>
>>> Telstra Country Wide director Gary Goldsworthy said the telco was now
>>> focused on the decommissioning of approximately 3,500 CDMA sites
>>> across Australia and the removal of redundant equipment.
>>>
>>> "The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past
>>> its use by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
>>>
>>> "Our technicians will therefore be removing old CDMA equipment and
>>> anything of value will be reused, sold or recycled."
>>>
>>> CDMA customers are being reminded that have until the end of May if
>>> they wish transfer their old mobile phone number to a Next G service.
>>>
>>> Telstra said it will continue to operate the 1800 888 888 support line
>>> for any customers with any concerns with their new Next G handsets.
>>
>> Do they get many calls from people complaining that they can't call to
>> complain cos their phone doesn't work and there's no phoneboxes?
>>
On Thu, 08 May 2008 10:40:38 in aus.comms cornedbeef007-groups@yahoo.com.au may have written:
> > It's a bit of a ridiculous comment from Telstra, by their definition
> > the GSM network (15 years old) would be crumbling into dust
>
> Do you think the original GSM equipment is still there?
Yep, of course there would be. If it ain't broke, why fix it? If it can
be re-used as part of an upgrade, why ditch it? If it can be software
upgraded, why replace it?
Even the new NextG network relies on numerous chunks of hardware from
the CDMA network which won't be removed as part of CDMA's decommision.
In fact, that was one of the points Telstra harped on about when the
NextG plans were first announced - re-use of existing equipment from the
CDMA network.
> It's has been progressively replaced/updated since it was installed,
> and is still being replaced/upgraded today.
Sure, but doesn't the same apply to CDMA over the past 9 years?
> The CDMA equipment is/was still pretty much the same as was installed
> 10 years ago, and the upgrade path was a dead end.
So, lots of GSM hardware _was_ upgraded, but CDMA hardware _wasn't_
upgraded, even though they've both had similar developments over their
life?
- addition of better and denser metro coverage
- addition of Short Message Service
- addition of better voice codecs (GSM-8PSK-AMR and EVRC)
- addition of packet data (GPRS and 1xRTT)
- addition of high-speed packet data (EDGE and EV-DO)
So if CDMA didn't need _any_ hardware upgrades to acheive all that while
GSM needed plenty, does that means CDMA was the better choice for a
mobile network technology from an infrastructure perspective?
> Yep, of course there would be. If it ain't broke, why fix it? If it can
> be re-used as part of an upgrade, why ditch it? If it can be software
> upgraded, why replace it?
>
It's been replaced to provide more and better services.
> Even the new NextG network relies on numerous chunks of hardware from
> the CDMA network which won't be removed as part of CDMA's decommision.
Total and utter CRAP!
The NextG network uses all new hardware. The only CDMA stuff re-used
is the frequency range, and transmission links.
> In fact, that was one of the points Telstra harped on about when the
> NextG plans were first announced - re-use of existing equipment from the
> CDMA network.
See above
>
> > It's has been progressively replaced/updated since it was installed,
> > and is still being replaced/upgraded today.
>
> Sure, but doesn't the same apply to CDMA over the past 9 years?
CDMA has been upgraded to the end of it's life. There is no way
forward from here.
>
> > The CDMA equipment is/was still pretty much the same as was installed
> > 10 years ago, and the upgrade path was a dead end.
>
> So, lots of GSM hardware _was_ upgraded, but CDMA hardware _wasn't_
> upgraded, even though they've both had similar developments over their
> life?
> - addition of better and denser metro coverage
More of the same old equipment.
> - addition of Short Message Service
> - addition of better voice codecs (GSM-8PSK-AMR and EVRC)
> - addition of packet data (GPRS and 1xRTT)
CDMA could do this when it was installed. It was ahead of it's time
when it went in, but it's at the end of the road. There is nowhere to
go from here for CDMA.
> - addition of high-speed packet data (EDGE and EV-DO)
>
> So if CDMA didn't need _any_ hardware upgrades to acheive all that while
> GSM needed plenty, does that means CDMA was the better choice for a
> mobile network technology from an infrastructure perspective?
"Graeme Willox" <graemewillox@aapt.net.au> wrote in message
news:fvs1ob$ph4$1@news-01.bur.connect.com.au...
> Alan Parkington wrote:
>> from
>> http://news.theage.com.au/cdma-netwo...0429-2995.html
>>
>> After months of public and political debate, Telstra's CDMA mobile phone
>> network was switched off in the early hours of Tuesday morning with
>> barely a whimper.
>>
>> According to Telstra, the shutdown occurred without any problems.
>
> What were they anticipating? Did they think the network might have been
> possessed (perhaps by the lingering spirit of the old analogue network)
> and that it might have refused to switch off?
There are many things that could have gone wrong. Dependancies on other
hardware that they were not aware of. Problems with rating and message
collection, etc etc
But yes, the shutdown did occur without any major problems. None that
impacted on customers.
<cornedbeef007-groups@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:e29df183-1fee-4b57-af56-9d5a50564780@i36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> >
>>
>> It's a bit of a ridiculous comment from Telstra, by their definition the
>> GSM
>> network (15 years old) would be crumbling into dust
>
> Do you think the original GSM equipment is still there?
Some of it, yes, most, no.
> It's has been progressively replaced/updated since it was installed,
>> Yep, of course there would be. If it ain't broke, why fix it? If it can
>> be re-used as part of an upgrade, why ditch it? If it can be software
>> upgraded, why replace it?
>>
> It's been replaced to provide more and better services.
>
>> Even the new NextG network relies on numerous chunks of hardware from
>> the CDMA network which won't be removed as part of CDMA's decommision.
>
> Total and utter CRAP!
> The NextG network uses all new hardware. The only CDMA stuff re-used
Depends what you classify as "hardware". The huts are shared with CDMA - so
is that "all new hardware". What about cooling units, aircon? power? etc
Is that "all new hardware"
> CDMA has been upgraded to the end of it's life. There is no way
> forward from here.
Was our CDMA flavour the latest and greatest flavour of CDMA? I doubt it
> More of the same old equipment.
>
>> - addition of Short Message Service
>> - addition of better voice codecs (GSM-8PSK-AMR and EVRC)
>> - addition of packet data (GPRS and 1xRTT)
>
> CDMA could do this when it was installed. It was ahead of it's time
Was SMS available at launch? I have a feeling it wasnt, it was a few months
off
"Polly the Parrot" <flatulantdingo@deadspam.com> wrote in message
news:20080508144902.6862e13d@linux-k6os.site...
> On Wed, 07 May 2008 06:05:52 GMT "Michael" <michael@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> It sure did go well. Congratulations to GG and all the others at the
>> GOC
>
> Brown nose git.
On Sat, 10 May 2008 13:29:22 in aus.comms.mobile Michael may have written:
> >> - addition of Short Message Service
> >> - addition of better voice codecs (GSM-8PSK-AMR and EVRC)
> >> - addition of packet data (GPRS and 1xRTT)
> >
> > CDMA could do this when it was installed. It was ahead of it's time
>
> Was SMS available at launch? I have a feeling it wasnt, it was a few months
> off
Nope, it wasn't. Nor was 1xRTT. Mr Beef here obviously isn't too sure
what he's arguing, so better to let it slide unless watching someone dig
deeper entertains you. *shrug
> > CDMA could do this when it was installed. It was ahead of it's time
>
> Was SMS available at launch? I have a feeling it wasnt, it was a few months
> off
The CDMA system was capable of SMS at launch, but Telstra didn't
install "all" of CDMA for the launch.
SMS capabilty was added to the Telstra CDMA network after launch.
Come to think of it, SMS wasn't available at launch of GSM either!!!
Both networks have evolved over time. GSM / NextG has a road map
ahead, and CDMA was at a dead end.
<cornedbeef007-groups@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:6a6cb45d-06f4-4558-a0e2-aca0366a2aeb@k1g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
>> > CDMA could do this when it was installed. It was ahead of it's time
>>
>> Was SMS available at launch? I have a feeling it wasnt, it was a few
>> months
>> off
>
> The CDMA system was capable of SMS at launch,
Clearly not, as you would have been able to SMS at the time
>but Telstra didn't
> install "all" of CDMA for the launch.
Obviously they installed the requirements of a CDMA service, which is to be
able to make and receive calls whilst in a coverage area
> SMS capabilty was added to the Telstra CDMA network after launch.
>
> Come to think of it, SMS wasn't available at launch of GSM either!!!
On Wed, 14 May 2008 14:46:30 in aus.comms.mobile cornedbeef007-groups@yahoo.com.au may have written:
> Come to think of it, SMS wasn't available at launch of GSM either!!!
That's right, it wasn't. Yet another point of similarity between the two
networks. You've forgotten which side of this thing you were
passionately arguing, haven't you...
cornedbeef007-groups@yahoo.com.au wrote:
>>> CDMA could do this when it was installed. It was ahead of it's time
>> Was SMS available at launch? I have a feeling it wasnt, it was a few months
>> off
>
> The CDMA system was capable of SMS at launch, but Telstra didn't
> install "all" of CDMA for the launch.
>
> SMS capabilty was added to the Telstra CDMA network after launch.
>
> Come to think of it, SMS wasn't available at launch of GSM either!!!
Different situation. By the time CDMA got here, customers were very well
accustomed to having SMS as they had on GSM, and expected the same on CDMA.
CDMA network no longer ringing 
Linear Mode
