The rumours of the demise of Telstra’s CDMA network could be greatly exaggerated once again as the telco puts the move on hold for the third time because the performance of the Next G platform in the bush was not up to scratch.

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The CDMA network was supposed to be closed by the end of January, however the Communications Minister Stephen Conroy ordered Telstra to report back to him by April 28 before any shutdown proceeded.

Many observers point out that mobile phone services are not only critical in regional, rural and remote communities where pay phones were few and far between – they can literally mean the difference between life and deatn. 

Senator Conroy said a final decision on whether to close the CDMA network had not yet been made.  “I am considering the report and will make my next decision as soon as practicable”, he said.

He also said that any CDMA closure would depend on him being satisfied that Telstra had comprehensively “addressed the identified problems with the 3G network”.