http://www.cellular-news.com/story/17311.php

Australian CDMA Network Shutdown Date Announced
Hutchison Telecoms Australia has announced that over 200,000 customers have upgraded from 2G CDMA services to W-CDMA following the rebranding of Orange to 3 CDMA in February and the launch of upgrade offers to those customers. With such a significant number of customers now upgraded to 3's 3G service, the CDMA network will close on 9 August 2006, enabling Hutchison to focus solely on delivering 3G services.

"Customer demand to move to 3G has been very strong," Kevin Russell, CEO Hutchison Telecoms, said. "It is clear that customers want more from their mobile service. With a critical mass of our 2G customers now using our 3G service, the time is right to commence plans to close our 2G network."

In the first month following February's announcement, over 60,000 customers upgraded, with that number climbing to over half the total 2G base within 12 weeks. "Our expectations were that 2G customers would want to take advantage of the offers, but we have been surprised at the pace. The response supports our belief that demand for and interest in 3G services is growing, and we will see its rapid adoption over the next two to three years," Russell said.

By early March, over 800,000 customers were using 3's 3G service, which launched in Australia in April 2003. In 2005, 70% of 3 customers browsed content on Planet 3 and experienced over 50 million content events, including watching live mobile TV, downloading audio and video music tracks, and accessing news and sports reports.

2G customers who have not yet upgraded will be extended offers to 3's 3G service including the waiver of all current handset instalments, a new 3G mobile and plans that can offer the equivalent value as their existing plans. They will have 90 days to select their new service, and from 10 August 2006 will no longer be able to use their 2G service following the network closure.

"With the 2G market's service revenues now in decline, and the 3G market growing rapidly, we are very well placed to continue to strengthen our market leading position. Our customers will benefit from that position - being able to use an increasing number of new services and being able to take advantage of calling a larger number of 3 customers for free as our customer base expands", Russell added.