Telstra today said that consumers – especially those in regional, rural, and remote areas should be very concerned by reports that the Government may slow or stop the expansion of the Next G™ network. The Next G™ network is the largest, fastest, and most advanced wireless network in the world. It would be a big mistake for the Government to stop its deployment by stopping the closure of the old CDMA network.
Statements in The Australian newspaper this morning from the National Party that they would block funding for the Next G™ network are misguided and misinformed. Telstra shareholder’s savings – not Government funds – were used to build the Next G™ network. Telstra never asked for Government funding to meet its coverage commitment, nor does it want any. The Government is funding SingTel, not Telstra.
“I want to make it very clear that this world-class network was paid for by Telstra’s shareholders – not Government handouts,” Group Managing Director of Telstra Country Wide, Mr Geoff Booth, said.
“We have not asked for any Government money and nor do we want it. Telstra has invested a $1.1 billion to build this network – giving country people access to world class mobile services for the first time.
“To say the least we are surprised by the claims in today’s press that the Government will remove funding that was never there and has never been sought.
“We will meet our commitment to provide our customers with the same or better coverage as they get on CDMA, it is a commitment that Telstra made from the outset, not the Government.”
Telstra asked that the Federal Government clarify comments in a media report today that it planned to force Telstra to keep the CDMA network open in regional areas.
Mr Booth said “Any measure by Government to stop migration to Next G™ services is totally unwarranted as we have committed to our customers that we will not close CDMA until it provides the same or better coverage on the Next G™ network. As Government oversight groups monitoring the process know, we are well ahead of schedule in meeting that commitment.
“We have spoken to Minister Coonan’s office about this issue this morning and they say there is no new announcement and no decisions have been taken.
“Today I am making an offer to all MPs. If you are critical of the network then call Telstra and we will accompany you to your “problem area” or take you for a drive test and show you first hand how well the technology works. We find that most people who have poor experiences are using the wrong equipment or devices that are set up incorrectly. In some cases, the Next G™ towers need to be tuned – a problem easily solved.”
Mr Booth said the Nationals seemed to be looking for a diversion following the Government’s waste of $1 billion on the Broadband Connect decision that duplicates existing networks with inferior WiMAX technology and delivers nothing to rural and remote Australia.
“The Government talks about protecting consumers and yet has just agreed to give nearly $1 billion to a foreign owned competitor to build a wireless network that will provide less than one third the coverage of the Next G™ network paid for by 1.6 million Australian mums and dads”.
“Based on the Government’s disclaimers on the OPEL maps no-one has any idea of what sort of coverage the tax payer funded, but foreign-owned OPEL network will provide.”
“Contrast this to Telstra, which has invested over $1.1 billion of its own money to provide Australia with the world’s largest, fastest, and most advanced national mobile network,” said Mr Booth.