CDMA switchoff 'must not harm consumers'

CDMA switchoff must not harm consumers : "Mr Conroy is waiting on the results of an independent Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) audit to make sure Telstra's claims are true before allowing it to switch off CDMA."

Sensible approach. It is important for us to be able to access our mobile networks and we cannot keep changing devices just to keep up with this market which is power housing along. The developments are coming thick and fast but we are in the middle of it all constantly having to upgrade, change, check...all money out of our pocket but to be cut off from a mobile network can be very serious these days. It can literally be a lifeline. I can understand carriers wanting to move us on because they do have a lot of exciting technology to offer us and I don't actually blame them as such that these things are coming out really quickly. We are going through a J learning curve with technology like industry moved us forwards rapidly last century. The changes have to come and we have to find sensible solutions. On the one hand there has to be a time line...how many people have valve sets these days and I have noticed pocket radios have come back into fashion...how cute! Bit of nostalgia. The CDMA network has to go so the money and time can go into Next Gen...but we cannot just dump people . The talk of the town for us city folk is knowing if our phone is CDMA or GSM. A lot of people wouldn't have a clue and need a quick fix solution to that. For some people they could upgrade now. The coverage though, has to be maintained and enhanced in this country because lack of access has created the haves and the have nots and the included and the excluded. You would expect the one thing technology could do would be to level the playing field. To me, it is its main advantage.