Now before Doug T and many others who use and love the Next G network get on my case, read on.
I acknowledge that when you have coverage, Next G is a great network. I accept that 'generally speaking' Next G coverage is pretty good and in some areas very good.
But Next G replaces CDMA and Telstra has been hammering us with 'a better network with equal or better coverage' for ages to get us to change over.
Now to the specific. I was at King Ash Bay (about 40 KM NE of
Borroloola NT for a couple of months mid last year. For those, who don't know, King Ash Bay has a permanent
population of only 20 or 30 people, but in the dry season it increases to couple of hundred for 6 or 7 months. While there, we had good, reliable CDMA coverage, even without an external antenna. But those with next G phones had no coverage, even with external antennas; hence many angry Next G users.
We are planning on returning to the area (we love the fishing) in March for a longer stay. I contacted Telstra Country wide in
Darwin to
check on coverage. I was told nothing has changed and this would remain the case for some time. I then contacted Telstra via their website - first via the online chat, then via the
feedback on Next G coverage (twice).
The answer I have is that CDMA coverage to the area in question was 'fortuitous'. It was not planned, it just happened. As a result there is no current plan to provide Next G coverage. Now as I said above, our CDMA coverage was regular and reliable. If it had been intermittent or depended on weather or time of day, I might accept the story.
But not only that, when I
check the Telstra coverage map, it suggests the area is covered by Next G, though an external antenna might be required.
I wonder how many more small communities and remote areas that had reliable CDMA coverage in the past are now being told it was 'fortuitous' and that Next G coverage is not planned for their area.
No wonder there is such confusion and mistrust of Telstra on this issue.
'A better network with equal or better coverage' is pretty plain English to me. I have never seen any small print that says 'but if your CDMA coverage is deemed by Telstra to be fortuitous, you will be screwed'.
Good on you Telstra. I'm a shareholder, but as far as I'm concerned, they need to deliver on their commitment - and fast. They deliberately set up a 'no rollback' strategy by converting people to Next G and canceling their CDMA service. Now their only option is to deliver on the promise - regardless of the difficulties and cost.
The fact that they have delivered 'a better network with equal or better coverage' to most users is not good enough. If QANTAS said 'we'll get you there safely', then delivered on that most of the time, would we accept it?
Cranky? You bet!!!