Optus reception

I found that while travelling my Optus GSM phone rarely worked, while others with Telstra were getting signal in most country towns. I changed over and haven't looked back. They may have increased coverage in the last few years, but I suspect not. I am not usually a fan of the bigger player, but I think in this instance they really do provide a more comprehensive service.

Optus mobile phone inland are about as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike We could get reception only in major towns alond
Stuart Hwy Port Aug, Coober Pedy, Alice, Katherine,
then Kununurra, Derby, Broome, Hedland, Karratha, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalbarri on west coast -
almost everywhere else a carrier pigeon was the go but our friends Telstra setup worked everywhere within a few ks of the regular
service station stops

No worries along major east coast highways but elsewhere near useless

cheers

Telstra CDMA is the way to go for travellers - it seems as if they are putting up towers in every one-horse town. See http://www.telstra.com.au/mobilenet/network/tsii_main.htm