Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Saturday, 19 April 2008 13:11
IT Industry -
Strategy
Page 2 of 3
The questions and answers that Telstra have published are as follows:
1. Is Telstra likely to reverse its decision to close down CDMA?
No. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy confirmed that Telstra could close the CDMA network on midnight, 28 April, 2008.
2. Does the Telstra Next G network provide as much coverage as CDMA?
Yes. The Next G network offers a larger mobile coverage footprint than the old CDMA network, covering more than 2 million square kilometres as compared to CDMA which covered more than 1.6 million square kilometres.
3. Which is the best mobile phone on the Next G network?
There are now more than 35 Next G mobile handsets and each has unique features and performance levels. Telstra recommends that customers living or travelling in rural areas should consider one of Telstra's seven Blue Tick handsets, which are designed to maximise handheld coverage.
4. What is the benefit of moving to the Next G network?
The Telstra Next G network is Australia's largest and fastest national broadband network, covering 99 per cent of the Australian population. Customers on the Next G network can enjoy advanced mobile content and applications such as video calling (available on most handsets), Internet access and BigPond TV, plus an array of the latest news, weather and sports reports.
What Telstra hasn’t published is any question – or answer – about what alternatives CDMA customers have to Next G.
Currently, the only real alternative is the 2G GSM network, one that offers voice and data at sub-dial-up GPRS speeds. Unfortunately, the GSM network does not have a range as wide as CDMA. If it did, the CDMA network would not have been needed in the first place.
So, will the Vodafone and Optus 3.5G networks, due for completion by the end of 2008, have any impact on Telstra’s Next G, specifically in the area of pricing? Please read onto page 3.
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