The latest report card from the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) has given the major telcos mixed reviews in repairing faults and reducing mobile call congestion rates.
The ACA found the performance of carriers in connecting new services nationally remained high during the December 2000 quarter.
However, it noted a four to five percent fall in Telstra's national performance in connecting new services in minor rural and remote areas respectively.
The telco blamed weather conditions for some problems.
The report also shows that, on a state and territory basis, Cable and Wireless Optus had the highest urban new service connection rate.
Telstra's performance in clearing faults dipped slightly in urban areas, compared to the same quarter in 1999, but in rural and remote areas the situation improved by six to eight percentage points.
The Authority says the two remaining fixed network carriers, AAPT and Primus had problems providing sufficient, accurate data to measure their performance.
The level of call drop-outs on GSM mobile networks was also measured. The ACA says there has been a marginal improvement over the last five quarters, with C&W Optus remaining relatively stable. It recorded more drop-outs in Tasmania (1.91 percent). Telstra's highest rate for drop-outs was in New South Wales (2.04 percent).
The Telecommunications Performance Monitoring Bulletin also noted an increase over the past five quarters in mobile network call congestion rates for C&W Optus, while Telstra's rate has been mixed and small.
Vodaphone's call congestion rate declined over the last five quarters however, it recorded most congestion in the December quarter in New South Wales (0.88 percent).
