As Telstra completes construction of three permanent Next G™ mobile base stations in Strathewen, Arthurs Creek and Kinglake West in the Nillumbik and Murrindindi shires, we will be turning off some of the temporary coverage cells we deployed immediately after Black Saturday.
These temporary coverage cells provided temporary GSM (2G) and Next G™ network coverage in areas where existing coverage was patchy and not reliable. We now have permanent Next G™ mobile coverage - namely Strathewen and Kinglake West, with Arthurs Creek to come online at the end of November 2009.
Some residents will notice that their older GSM phones won’t get the same coverage as they experienced with the temporary mobile cells. Our permanent mobile coverage investment is in the Next G™ network only – not the old GSM network.
Telstra recommends customers move across to the Next G™ network to take advantage of the new coverage and our shop at Westfield Shopping Centre in McDonald’s Road in Plenty Valley (03 9437 8650 or mrobins@tlifeplentyvalley.com.au) is ready to help customers move across to the new network.
This move 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 customer’s want.
We are advising customers to visit the store and speak to Michael, Sebastian and the team about their individual circumstances.
Important tips ahead of the summer
As Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges residents prepare their homes and families for the bushfire season, it’s also critical they audit their communications devices and services.
Telstra has also prepared some important tips to help ready residents for the upcoming bushfire season. The tips have been developed in response to customer enquiries about ways to optimise their telephone services during natural disasters, such as the Victorian bushfires or Queensland floods.
Telstra’s 10 Tips:
- Think about a Blue Tick mobile phone – different mobile phones have different capabilities. Telstra’s Blue Tick accreditation program identifies mobile handsets that have enhanced coverage for country areas. People can check here: http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/index.html
- Upgrade your 2G SIM – it’s important that customers upgrade their 2G SIM card when purchasing a Next G™ mobile handset to receive the benefits of Telstra’s extensive 3G network coverage. Customer can keep their number and it’s a free service unless a new plan or handset is required.
- Have a spare mobile battery – it’s advisable to have a spare, fully charged battery on stand-by.
- Carry additional mobile phone chargers – an in-car and a separate AC mains charger are essential in case of evacuation.
- Consider a standard fixed phone - power failures will affect cordless PSTN phones and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services that require 240V power to operate. Customers using VoIP should check with their service providers.
- Keep essential numbers close by – have a list of essential contact numbers close at hand, including local Police, Fire, SES and Telstra’s fault line - 132203.
- Use Triple Zero (000) appropriately – only call Triple Zero in life threatening emergencies. If your situation is not time critical but requires the attention of an emergency services organisation, you can obtain alternate numbers for these organisations by calling Telstra Call Connect – 12456.
- Keep calls to a minimum – although Telstra monitors the network closely in times of emergency to avoid congestion, it’s advisable to keep calls to a minimum during natural disasters to allow people to call emergency service organisations.
- Gauge the benefits of a satellite phone – if living or travelling in isolated areas, consider purchasing a satellite phone for continuous phone coverage. 10.
- Consider a Yagi antennae – having one of these antennas maximises mobile phone reception from your home or vehicle.
Debra Farrelly
External Relations Advisor
Melbourne
Telstra
