What Parkybot doesn't post about CDMA closure.

CDMA network closure not yet finalised
Thursday April 10, 2008, 5:37 pm 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 switch-over 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.

Telstra said the customer issues passed on to the telco by Senator
Birmingham had been addressed.

Telstra spokesman Peter Taylor said a hotline had been established to
help customers who were experiencing genuine problems with their Next G
mobile devices and in some instances customers had been assisted in
swapping over their handsets.

He said people living and working in fringe coverage areas should
ensure that they purchased "blue tick" handsets, which are recommended
for handheld use in rural coverage areas.

"In addition to the establishment of the 1800 888 888 hotline, Telstra
has put in place a number of other programs to make it easier for
customers to make the move from the old CDMA network," Mr Taylor said.

"(This includes) putting extra staff on the road to demonstrate
coverage equivalence, monitoring dropout rates, and introducing a shop
accreditation program to ensure customers get the appropriate advice on
Next G handsets and accessories."

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