Telstra claims its controversial Next G network is now officially better than its soon-to-be-defunct CDMA equivalent, after the telco sent a team to audit network coverage. Now government testers are hot on their heels, as CDMA's January 2008 switch-off date looms.
Telstra says the Next G network now covers an area 25 percent larger than its 2G CDMA counterpart, which it hopes to switch off in January next year.
In order to discover whether Next G had outpaced CDMA, the telco said it sent out a team to conduct a four-month long drive test. The test team covered 120,000 kilometres, collecting data on CDMA and Next G coverage levels around the country.
Following government concerns about Next G's performance, Communications Minister Helen Coonan introduced a draft guideline earlier this year preventing Telstra closing the CDMA network before its 3G equivalent could provide equal or better coverage.
The government's telecoms watchdog, the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority), will now commence its own audits to see if Next G meets the government's standards.
A spokesperson for the regulator said the audits, conducted by contractor Zamro, started yesterday.
The ACMA will need to present its findings to the government within the coming three months, enabling the Communications Minister to decide whether or not Telstra can close the network.
A Telstra spokesperson told ZDNet Australia: "There are 104 days left till we move across to Next G and for business customers, time's even tighter, as they shut down over Christmas. The clock is certainly ticking."
While the telco has already been advertising the date of the proposed switch-off to customers, it has this week launched two incentive programs to encourage more to make the change to Next G.
Telstra yesterday announced that customers moving from CDMA and signing to a Next G contract will be credited with AU$100 against their bill. Another scheme will see customers who agree to a three-year contract on Next G given a handset upgrade every 12 to 18 months.
I am currently on the CDMA network after having spent two years paying off the phone and on a monthly casual plan. Now Telstra wants me to change over to Next G and go on another 24 month contract. Why should I have too? I think Telstra should give me a replacement phone (same brand as I already have), switch me over to their Next G network and continue with my monthly casual plan (ie no additional cost to me). But guess what?? They have no intention of doing anything of the sort and have been told so. This is the way they look after their customers. Well, guess what Telstra, there are other networks out there who offer the same service at a better price and am currently shopping around. When the time comes, I will be transferring all of my Telstra services to other carriers and perhaps then I will be treated like a customer should be treated. The CEO of Telstra does not deserve his millions of dollars in salary + bonuses when customers are treated this way. Thanks for nothing Telstra!! You really need to look after your long term customers a bit better than this.