76/07

Wednesday 13th June 2007

Additional Audits for CDMA-Next G coverage for WA, Tasmania, NT and North Queensland

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan today announced that the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will conduct further audits of CDMA coverage in Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and North Queensland.

“These additional audits will mean that every State and the Northern Territory will be sampled over the coming months,” Senator Coonan said.

“The audit process is an important assessment tool to ensure Telstra meets its own public commitment that it will not switch off the CDMA network until coverage on the Next G network is equivalent or better.

“I make no apologies for putting consumers first when considering regulation of Australia’s communications industry,” Senator Coonan said.

“At this stage, further regulatory measures remain an option of last resort.  But I will be watching closely and expect that Telstra will meet its public commitment in full before any move is made to switch-off their CDMA network.”

Senator Coonan said that the Government’s commitment stood in stark contrast to the experience that regional and rural Australians endured under Labor when the old analogue mobile network was turned off without a replacement rural network in place.

“This Government will ensure a successful transition to next generation technology,” Senator Coonan said.

“To people outside metropolitan Australia, adequate mobile phone coverage is not only important but in many instances, a critical need.”

In 2006, the Minister directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority to undertake independent coverage audits of both the CDMA network and the Next G as a key part of verifying Telstra’s public assurance.

The initial coverage audits covered approximately 100 sites and focused on rural, regional and remote areas. In addition, the audit sites take into account the range of factors that have an impact on the transmission of mobile phone signals, for instance the coverage audits include mixed terrain including flat, mountainous and average terrain, wet rice-growing country and river flats.

The audits are expected to be concluded in the coming months after Telstra has confirmed that it has met its commitment to equivalent or better coverage.

Media Contact: Fiona Telford 02 6277 7480