Entry No.04c

IT Writers Awards

Telstra and the Government are shadow boxing on mobile phone coverage, reports Selina Mitchell.

TELSTRA remains confident its $600 million CDMA network will provide service comparable with, if not better than, the analog service it has replaced, despite continuing complaints from customers. The telco giant, already under attack for unmet promises of equivalent coverage, was responding to the announcement of an Australian Communications Authority (ACA) probe into the network roll-out. The ACA's move led to renewed calls by some for the reopening of the analog network, but much of the equipment has already been dismantled and the spectrum redeployed.

The ACA's decision to scrutinise the CDMA network came close on the heels of comments by Prime Minister John Howard that some analysts view as a hint of the possibility of more changes to the universal service obligation (USO). ``I am not representing to anybody that every part of the country is fully covered by mobile phones, but it is getting progressively better and it is one of those basic services that people are entitled to have,'' Howard said last week.

Australian Telecommunications Users Group managing director Allan Horsley says it will be a big ask to extend the USO to cover mobile phones. But he says telecoms is a very rich industry that would not suffer ``if a small percentage was taken out to ensure those needing coverage received it''. He says there is an obligation on the Government and Howard to specify what they expect of Telstra prior to any further privatisation. ``It is very clear there is pressure to improve life in country areas, and mobile phones are becoming more and more expected,'' he says. There has been criticism of the CDMA network's performance, particularly in country areas, since 80 per cent of the analog network was switched off at the end of last year. National Farmers' Federation president Ian Donges says many members have experienced coverage and usage problems with the new network and these must be addressed.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Walsh says members had reported continuing problems with dropped calls, clipped words and poor coverage in many areas, and the conduct of business was being hampered. Most critics want a digital network that works properly while some, such as the Association for the Protection of Users of Mobile Phones, want the old network back. But many in the industry have described this as fantasy. Howard says restoring the old network may be technically feasible but is impossible because the government is locked into commercial agreements with carriers. 

Telstra's CDMA manager Greg Young says it is also technically impossible. ``Physical pieces of the network have been dismantled and disconnected,'' he says. Those parts of the 800MHz spectrum that the analog network operated on were purchased by a number of carriers in an auction in 1998 and will be used for other services, he says. Last week the ACA announced it would scrutinise Telstra's roll-out of the CDMA network and run tests to verify Telstra's equivalent coverage claims. ``The authority has received many complaints about a wide range of service difficulties with the new CDMA network, and wants coverage and usage problems resolved as early as possible,'' chairman Tony Shaw said. Telstra was taken by surprise by the ACA's announcement, but a spokesman says they will be happy to aid the regulator's assessment process, as it would clear up community misconceptions about CDMA performance. ``During the construction of a network of this size it is inevitable some minor enhancements and fine tuning will be required,'' he says.

Back to Most Controversial
Top of page

Content Copyright © the author/publisher listed above

Design Copyright © Consensus Pty Ltd

This web-site uses frames, click here for the full picture