CDMA CLOSURE DELAY MAKES SENSE
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP supports the CDMA closure delay and is pleased the Rudd Governments has followed the Coalition’s lead and applied a ‘no disadvantage’ standard in deciding that Telstra CDMA network is not yet ready for closure.
“In many parts of rural and regional Australia where my constituents have family or travel on business or pleasure, mobile phones provide an important life-line and therefore it is vital they are serviced by a network that instils confidence by providing broad and reliable coverage,” Mr Ruddock said.
While Telstra was confident its Next G network provided equivalent or better coverage than CDMA, anecdotal reports from around the country suggested that this was not the case for everybody.
“Concerns have also been raised about the compatibility of handsets and other accessories that will affect constituents, such as car antennas. For whatever reason there are also large numbers of CDMA customers who are yet to make the switch to Next G, despite the looming closure of the CDMA network,” Philip Ruddock said.
Paid up CDMA customers must also be afforded full access to the network until such a time that it is shut down. Telstra has indicated it can meet the licensing requirements by 28th April.