Australia : Following extensive testing Telstra today announced it had achieved the milestone of the same or better coverage on the Next G™ network as on CDMA.

Executive Director Telstra Wireless, Mr Mike Wright, said it took many months of testing and optimisation by Telstra and its strategic partner Ericsson to get to the point where their scientific and engineering reviews showed the Next G™ network was bigger, better and faster than CDMA on every measure.

This means the Next G™ network coverage is now available in all areas where there is published CDMA network coverage, as well as in more than 45 locations which previously did not have CDMA coverage.

"The Next G™ network now covers 25 per cent more territory than the published coverage of the old CDMA network, has nearly 75 per cent more towers, offers speeds up to five times faster, and roams to more than 160 extra countries for voice and SMS," Mr Wright said.

"This means the time is right for our customers still connected to CDMA to make the move to the Next G™ network, with the confidence they are choosing a bigger, better and faster mobile network that is growing all the time.

"We make this coverage declaration after undertaking rigorous engineering reviews as well as an industry recognised testing methodology to fine-tune the network and achieve what we committed to in November 2005 - that Telstra's Next G™ network will provide the same or better coverage as the ageing CDMA network.

The Next G™ network:

• covers more than two million square kilometres and is 25 per cent larger than the published coverage of the CDMA network at more than 1.6 million square kilometres and is more than 100 times larger than any competing 3G network.
• has more than 6,000 sites, nearly 75 per cent more than the CDMA network's 3,480 sites.
• enables mobile phone coverage to more than 98.9 per cent of Australia's population, compared to the CDMA network's more than 98 per cent.
• enables wireless broadband to more than 98.9 per cent of the population, compared to 49 per cent of the population on the CDMA 1xEV-DO.
• offers typical user download speeds* of 550 kbps - 3 Mbps, compared to a maximum of 300 - 600 kbps on CDMA 1x EV-DO.
• offers peak network uplink speed of 1.9 Mbps compared to 153 kbps offered on the CDMA 1xRTT and 1x EV-DO.
• supports international roaming in more than 170 countries, compared to nine countries for CDMA.
• achieved network call drop performance of less than one per cent within just 10 months, compared to six years for CDMA.

Mr Wright said testing and optimisation of the network by Telstra and Ericsson, the world's leading mobile networks provider, included the most comprehensive network drive test in Australian telecommunications history.

"In just four months our drive test teams travelled more than 120,000 kilometres - roughly equivalent to driving three times around the earth's equator - throughout Australia. We gathered more than 500 gigabytes - roughly equivalent to 100 computer-burned DVDs worth - of drive log files for analysis. Telstra has used this data to implement changes to antenna configurations and software parameters.

Director and Telstra Account Manager for Ericsson Australia and New Zealand, Mr Sam Saba, said each of the drive survey teams were equipped with Ericsson's industry leading software radio network analysis tool for troubleshooting and optimising wireless networks.

"Connected to CDMA and Next G™ handsets, the software tool used a GPS device to capture location information and record the extensive data being transmitted between the phones and the Next G™ and CDMA networks for subsequent analysis. This data demonstrated the coverage and service advantage now being delivered to Telstra's customers from the city to country," Mr Saba said.

"We've used this industry recognised tool with other leading telecommunications operators across the globe, in most of the 140 countries in which we operate."

Mr Saba said Ericsson was proud to be Telstra's partner in designing, integrating and rolling out a national 3GSM mobile network, built with an evolution path to support the future technology roadmap.

Group Managing Director Telstra Country Wide®, Mr Geoff Booth, said the Next G™ coverage achievement was an important milestone for Australia and since the launch of the network more than 45 locations across Australia that previously did not have CDMA coverage have received Next G™ network coverage.

"For example Marble Bar in Western Australia, Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Jenolan Caves in New South Wales, Wadeye in the Northern Territory, Prominent Hill in South Australia, Pyalong in Victoria, and Daintree in Queensland all have access to the turbo charged data speeds of the Next G™ network."

"Most importantly, our customers are using the Next G™ network in ways that CDMA simply could not support, that is, they have access to features such as video calling and high-speed broadband - in many places for the first time," Mr Booth said.

Mr Booth also announced that Telstra had launched a new offer that rewards Next G™ customers with three or more services with a new handset every 12 to 18 months when they join up to a three year plan. In addition, until 13 November, customers moving from the CDMA network to a Next G™ contract can take advantage of a $100 one-off credit against their bill.

Mr Booth reinforced that Telstra wanted to hear from customers who were experiencing any issues so that it could help them get the best out of the Next G™ network.

"Customers should speak to Telstra about the Next G™ handsets, equipment and accessories, such as external antennas and car kits, that will suit their needs and enable them to maximise their usage experience," Mr Booth said.

To make it easier to select the right device, Telstra has a 'blue tick' for devices recommended for rural handheld use. Telstra shops and dealers will be able to help customers purchase the right equipment for their needs.

Telstra has met its commitment to meet or exceed CDMA published coverage on the new Next G™ mobile broadband network two months ahead of schedule and is on track to close the CDMA network on 28 January 2008.