In these two audio recordings, Nigel Dews, the CEO of mobile carrier 3, firstly goes through the current state of the company in detail and then deals with tough questions from reporters and analysts.
3 CEO Nigel Dews
(Credit: 3)
In this first podcast, Dews talks about initiatives and the state of play at Hutchison Telecommunications, which operates as '3', as part of the company's regular financial results briefing.
Dews was speaking at 3's regular results briefing yesterday. The carrier unveiled a push to expand its third-generation (3G) mobile coverage, including plans to extend its 2100MHz network, and took the lid off an agreement to use parts of Telstra's 850MHz Next G network for roaming.
Up until now, 3 customers have only been serviced with 3G on the carrier's own network, which reaches 56 per cent of the population. For forays out of this coverage, 3 customers roamed onto Telstra's 2G network, covering 96 per cent of the population.
In this second podcast, Dews answers tough questions from reporters and analysts.
When pressed about whether 3 would receive equivalent speeds to Telstra customers on the Next G network, Dews declined to provide many details.
"We're getting the sort of access we need," he said. "We've brought maximum speeds to mass market devices. I'm not going to comment on the individual components of the deal."
He declined to comment on 3's relationship with Apple and why it, along amonst Australia's mobile carriers, was not able to offer the Apple handset when it launched locally last month.
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How come he doesn't explain why 3 has the worst customer service out of any provider? I left 3 after four years (and after having spent several thousand dollars with the company), because of the way 3 treated me.
Sign up a friend and we'll give you $25. Yeah right. SMS to say that direct debit payment has failed. Call them and there hasn't been a problem, they just accidentally sent out a msg. Then they bill me for the call to 3 care. Credit card gets stolen. $20 because payment is declined.
Five hour long phone calls to India later and it is only when I threaten to leave and take legal action that they refund my money. I terminated my contract anyway. Good riddance. If you're considering switching to 3, I implore you not to. Spare yourself the pain.