Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) posted:

Stephen,

Thanks for your reply. So at the end of the month the only way to make a mobile call with Optus is to have the 'old' GSM phone?

I was sure our friend had an Optus Next G phone - it was a brand new one - but I may have been mistaken - could be the old digital (GSM).


Tim

Member - Stephen L (SA) posted:

Hi Tim
I have asked this question to our local Telstra Rep in the fast and her response was that this was a very often asked question to her. She said that Telstra have spent many millions of Dollars on the NextG network for Telstra Customer only at this stage. She said that in the distant future, (she thought not less than 18 months) Telstra MAY consider renting the use to other carriers, but this would come down to Telstra Officials.

I do not work for Telstra, but I can see their side on things, why should they spent all that money and technology for the benefit of other carriers, so after the 28th April, the other carriers will only be able to offer GMS phone coverage to their customers. GSM may be OK in the bigger area, but last year while over on the West Coast of SA, GSM was dead, while I had full coverage with CDMA. There will be a lot of people cry foul, but they have had long enough to change over to NextG.

See what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Cheers

Stephen

obee posted:

To carry the argument a little further, why shouldn't Telstra be allowed to charge as much as they like for the Next G service? It is a monopoly after all.

The government who allowed the copper to be sold to telstra should be banned for the next twenty years. What am I saying? They will be.

LOL

Owen

Nomadic Navara posted:

That Optus phone is possibly a 3G model.

PeterD

Member - Mike DID posted:

"why shouldn't Telstra be allowed to charge as much as they like for the Next G service? It is a monopoly after all."

- what ????? Telstra hasn't had a monopoly in Mobile Networks for decades !
.

Member - Mike DID posted:

When Telstra was part-owned by the Government, they had an obligation to provide a level of community service.

The government should not be surprised that a fully privatised company will use it's investments to maximise profits for it's shareholders - that's the way every other private company working a competitive environment operates.

Member - Tim - Stratford (VIC) posted:

MPS,

You're right - we were only 10kms past Blue Pool at a campsite called Shady's Place - great sport for a few tents - and close to home.

Thanks for your reply.


Tim

Member - John (Vic) posted:

What planet do you live on?

Holden4th posted:

A planet that has a small continent that has a very poor telecommunications infrastructure.

lifeisgood posted:

That would be a LARGE continent with pretty good infrastructure considering the thin spread of population beyond the cities and towns. Telstra is owned by its shareholders , they bought it from the government for billions of dollars. A large parcel of shares is held by superannuation funds for public serviants (Futures Fund). So yes it is a private company though the previous govt. has made it difficult at times to operate on a truly commercial basis.

Member - John (Vic) posted:

Lifeisgood to someone from another planet that explanation makes to much sense. :-)

Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) posted:

Actually the next G frequency has far worse obstacle penatration . My phone is currently set to GSM so it an be used in side. ther day both my mate and i were talking on our phones as he drove into an UG carpark. He kept yacking on full reception(GSM) where i was cut off dead (850mz).
and inaproprate hansets are still being sold . My missus is on her 4th with the latest dieing last week after just lasting 1 week

Member - Mike DID posted:

Next G (850MHz) is optimised for rural and remote areas.

In urban areas Telstra has access to the 3G network which uses 2100MHz - which has better prnetration into buildings.

Though it's pointless trying to compare networks / frequencies based on one or two example.