Senator Fiona Nash

RURAL MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE GUARANTEE

Rural and regional Australians now have a rock solid guarantee they won’t be forced to give up their CDMA mobile phones until the new Next G network is operating well enough to provide equal, if not better coverage and services, NSW Nationals Senator Fiona Nash said. Senator Nash today welcomed the announcement by Communications Minister Senator Helen Coonan that the Federal Coalition Government will place a licence condition on Telstra to ensure it doesn’t close the CDMA network until the Minister is satisfied with the performance of the Next G network. The Minister’s announcement comes just days after a motion was passed at The Nationals annual Federal Council, reaffirming the commitment to fight on behalf of rural and regional Australians for the right to continuous mobile phone service. “I have always maintained that mobile phone users in rural and regional Australia are entitled to a smooth transition when moving from CDMA to the new Next G network,” Senator Nash said. “Telstra has said they have every intention of doing this, however the feedback I am getting is that this is not the case; that customers have been less than satisfied with the level of Next G coverage and services and they are not happy. “Two days ago, the Nationals reinforced the need for the CDMA network to remain until Next G signal strength and coverage replicates that provided by the CDMA network, and today’s announcement is the guarantee we have been looking to secure for the 7.5 million Australians living outside the major metropolitan areas. “I am committed to ensuring all mobile phone users – particularly those who don’t fall within formal coverage maps but who do receive a level of CDMA coverage – are in no way disadvantaged by the transition. “There should be no loss of service, no matter what. Every single person who has been able to use their CDMA phone, must have equal, if not better coverage and services under the Next G network. “Telstra has always maintained that customers won’t be disadvantaged, so news of today’s licence condition should in no way adversely affect the telco and its plans for the new network. “This is simply a safety net to make sure Telstra keeps its word.” Media contact: Julie Siegert 0429 818 600

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