As Telstra completes its permanent Next G mobile coverage work in Strathewen, Arthurs Creek and surrounding areas, we’re also turning off some of the temporary GSM coverage cells we had deployed immediately after Black Saturday.
Some residents will notice that their older GSM phones won’t get the same coverage as in previous months. Our permanent mobile coverage investment is in the Next G network only – not the old GSM network.
Our new T[life] store in Plenty Valley is ready to help customers move across to the new network. This could be as easy as porting their old number onto a new phone and SIM card at no charge, or could involve a charge depending on the contract and phone customers want.
My advice is for people to visit the store – or call ahead – and speak to Michael or Sebastian about their individual circumstance.
T[life] Plenty Valley (Westfield) – Ph 03 9437 8650.
I’ve also prepared some important that we welcome you sharing with residents ahead of this bushfire season.
Mobile phone audit
* As Strathewen residents prepare their homes and families for bushfire season it’s also critical they audit their communications devices and services.
* Victoria has Next G mobile phone coverage across 99 per cent of the population but many people are using phones and SIM cards that aren’t compatible. Telstra, for example, reports that some customers are using old GSM network SIM cards in new Next G network phones – this will prevent them from achieving optimum coverage. To maximise coverage performance, Telstra advises customers to use a Next G SIM card in a Next G mobile phone.
* If you’re living, working or travelling in country areas, select a ‘Blue Tick’ rated mobile device - Telstra’s Blue Tick handset accreditation program was a world first when it was launched in 2007 and it continues to be the only such program in Australian; to help customers in country areas select an appropriate handset. Telstra offers customers a choice of 11 Blue Tick rated handsets. Coverage performance can also be enhanced in many instances by using an external antenna. If people are in really marginal coverage areas they should look at installing antennas on their vehicles and their properties.
* People also think changing SIMs means having to change numbers. That’s not the case. People can upgrade their phone and SIM card and keep their number.
* It became clearer last year that mobile phones are important in times of emergency, so people should ensure they do a mobile phone audit before the summer. This would involve taking the back off their phone and checking if the SIM card is a Next G SIM. If so, is the phone a Next G compatible phone? People can check here: http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/index.html
* Telstra has improved or is in the process of improving coverage in a number of areas over recent months – including Strathewen, Arthurs Creek, St Andrews, Kinglake West, Narbethong, Dixon’s Creek, Castella – but this coverage extension is for the Next G network only, not the old GSM network, so people with old GSM phones will not see any coverage improvements.
Regards,
Patrick O'Beirne
General Manager, Melbourne
Telstra Corporation Limited
