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The Australian Government said it would let Telstra close its old CDMA mobile
phone network from April 28.
Unlike Vodafone mobiles, standard Telecom mobiles are not compatible with other
existing mobile networks in Australia.
In January, the Australian Government gave Telecom a threemonth reprieve when
it forced Telstra to postpone the networks closure.
The shutdown will prevent Telecom prepaid customers with CDMAonly phones from
using their phones in Australia.
Onaccount customers who do not already have a WorldMode phone capable of
connecting with both Telecoms existing CDMA network and second generation
networks, will need to upgrade their phones or borrow WorldMode phones from
Telecom if they go to Australia.
Telecom said it had been running a customer communications campaign since last
year, focusing on customers who have roamed in the past two years, and offering
special phone upgrade deals.
Spokeswoman Katherine Murphy said the most regular roamers have been offered
free WorldMode phones.
Telecom has kiosks at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports where its
customers can buy or borrow a WorldMode phone.
As a last resort, customers who arrive in Australia without a WorldMode phone
can buy a phone from network operator Optus, on which they can use their Telecom
number.
Telecom is building a new $300 million WCDMA network, which will be compatible
with Australias networks. It is expected to be operating in November.
Telecom acting chief executive of retail Simon Moutter told analysts at a
briefing last week that he expected that the companys contingency plans and its
range of four WorldMode devices would help the company "ride out the period
where we have a poor roaming proposition to Australia".
Chief executive Paul Reynolds has described his inherited CDMA network as a dead
end for the company.
At the analysts briefing, he said: "Weve got to get out of this CDMA
culdesac."
The new network would allow the company to offer new services and devices.
"And, finally, our ability to address the really lucrative international roaming
revenues which Telecom New Zealand is currently virtually out of."
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Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4483376a13.html
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