Australia
: 3 today announced a new national roaming arrangement that will result
in significantly expanded mobile coverage for 3 customers.
From 1 April 2005,
3 customers travelling outside the 3 Video Zone will have access to
Telstra’s national GSM/GPRS network footprint, giving them access
to coverage of 96% of the Australian population.
The new agreement
builds on the 3G network share agreement signed between Hutchison
and Telstra earlier this week.
Hutchison CEO
Kevin Russell said the two separate deals provide customers with the
reassurance that when they join 3 they are joining a powerful combination
of the nation's most extensive mobile coverage provider and the nation's
leading 3G network.
“With 3,
customers get outstanding video multimedia services, the most competitive
prices delivered on the most sophisticated network in the Australian
mobile market,” Mr Russell said.
“With this
latest announcement, we can now also claim service coverage which
is at the very forefront of the industry,” he said.
To ensure a smooth
transition, the new roaming capability will be implemented in stages,
starting 1 April 2005 and continuing over the following months.
Customers will
be contacted individually in the new year to be advised of the change.
They will not be required to take any action to benefit from the improved
coverage.