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WELLINGTON - Telecom is to spend $300 million improving its mobile network.
The company said today it would develop a new wideband CDMA (WCDMA) network to complement its existing CDMA (code division multiple access) network capabilities.
Building the WCDMA network would start late this year. The $300 million cost in capital expenditure over the next two years was $200 million more than would have been spent over the next five years under a CDMA-only path.
Telecom said it was committed to its CDMA network to the extent the company would guarantee customers their current mobile phones would continue to be supported by Telecom's network for at least the next five years.
Chief operating officer of technology Mark Ratcliffe said the decision to develop a WCDMA network alongside Telecom's existing network follow ed extensive analysis of the future evolution of mobile technologies.
The new mobile network would be based on WCDMA HSPA technology, "a real leapfrog in capability beyond current mobile broadband offerings", Mr Ratcliffe said.
That technology, and the "long-term evolution" vision outlined for WCDMA , would enable a new generation of competitive commercial and consumer services, including high quality music, video and entertainment offerings.
This month Telecom was also launching its WorldMode global roaming capability, providing voice roaming on both CDMA and GSM (global system for mobile communication) networks in 180 countries.
- NZPA
