Mobile network concerns

SHELLHARBOUR residents who missed opportunities to air any grievances about Telstra's local network coverage at recent public meetings at Corrimal and Kiama will have a final opportunity to meet with the telco's Illawarra management at Bomaderry Bowling club at 10am on September 26.

Meetings were held at Corrimal on September 12 and at Kiama Leagues Club yesterday (September 19).

Telstra Country Wide area general manager Patrick Nolan has given assurances that the existing CDMA network will not be switched off until the Next Gtm network "provides the same or better coverage".

According to Mr Nolan, Telstra is on track to deliver on this promise by mid-October -- two months ahead of schedule.

However, he has qualified his undertaking with confirmation that it may be "within the year" before coverage extends to Shellharbour and other centres including Nowra.

And he has warned CDMA customers making the switch to the Next Gtm network only to expect service on a "like for like" basis.

"So if you are using a car kit and external antenna with your old CDMA device, then use a car kit and external antenna with your new Next Gtm device," he said.

It was vital that Next Gtm customers experiencing coverage issues contact Mr Nolan "so we can continue to fine tune the network and make sure you are equipped with the devices and accessories best suited to your requirements," he said.

When the Lake Times attempted to contact Mr Nolan on his advertised phone contact (1800 687 829) to discuss mobile coverage issues, our calls were diverted to Telstra's phone queue, with the message: "All our operators are busy at the moment. You have been placed in a queue. Your call will be answered by the first available operator."

Telstra announced in late 2005 that it would replace its CDMA network in rural and regional areas with a Next Generation (Next G) wireless broadband network, which would fully replace CDMA by January 2008.

Telstra's South Coast Next Gtm public relations campaign follows concerns that its Next G network has failed to meet Government-determined criteria on price, speed and service.

The respected rural advocacy organisation, the Kondinan Group, has advised 10,000 farmers not to migrate to the Next G network after its tests of seven Telstra Next G handsets found their performance inferior as compared to CDMA

products.

Telstra has not yet satisfactorily answered claims that use of the Next G network will involve a hefty premium of $185 a month.