Number of Mobiles Greater than Australian Population
CANBERRA—The number of mobile phones in use in Australia has surged to a record high and now exceeds the nation's population.
For the first time, there is now more than one mobile for every Australian, with 21.26 million mobile phones now in operation - an increase of 7.6 per cent from the year before.
There are more than 4.5 million third generation mobile phones in Australia, a 192 per cent increase between 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007.
The number of fixed-line services, meanwhile, dropped from 11.26 million to 10.92 million.
The number of payphones in operation in Australia - both Telstra operated and privately operated - dropped by 8,368, to 49,862.
The figures are contained in the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) 2006-07 communications report tabled in parliament today by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
The report also shows the number of internet subscribers has grown to 6.43 million, made up of 2.09 million with narrowband and 4.33 million with broadband connections.
Telstra to Switch off CDMA Network from Midnight
CANBERRA—Telstra's CDMA network will be switched off tonight amid lingering concerns that some people in the bush could be left out of the mobile phone loop.
The CDMA network will be shut down across the country from midnight, closing a significant chapter in the history of telecommunications in Australia.
Telstra is urging customers to switch to its more modern Next G network.
But federal MP Tony Windsor says he has concerns about the quality of the Next G platform coverage, while there was also a risk people in remote areas could be left isolated in cases of emergency.
The CDMA service was launched in September 1999, and at its peak had more than one million customers - most based in rural and regional Australia.
The reliability of the network, and its widespread coverage of about 98 per cent of the population, saw CDMA gain parochial support throughout the bush.
"In my view, the two networks are nowhere near equivalent," Mr Windsor said.
"The very people who most need them are going to be in the position where they won't have a service."
However, Telstra Country Wide director Gary Goldsworthy said nothing had been left to chance, with customers having been contacted by telephone, and sent letters and text messages in an effort to remind them of the impending shutdown.
He said the CDMA network had served Australia well, but that it had been superseded by more advanced third generation mobile technology.
Following the network closure any calls to a remaining CDMA network will receive an announcement saying the number has been disconnected, while text messages will receive a "message not sent" notification.
Mr Goldsworthy said the immediate focus after the closure of the old network would be the deactivation of about 3,500 CDMA sites across Australia and the removal of redundant equipment.
"The CDMA network equipment is now up to a decade old and well past its use by date," Mr Goldsworthy said.
"Our technicians will therefore be removing old CDMA equipment and anything of value will be reused, sold or recycled."
Some mobile phone customers from other networks could be affected by the CDMA shutdown.
Optus currently has a handful of customers who are reliant on Telstra's network.
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