Telecom New Zealand has confirmed it will switch off its CDMA mobile network in mid-2012 as it plans to migrate all customers to its WCDMA/HSPA-based ‘XT’ network. Moreover, the company announced plans today to close its CDMA-based WorldMode Roaming service on 28 October this year, as well as its domestic CDMA EV-DO data network on 30 November 2010. WorldMode customers will be able to use their phone as normal in New Zealand until the CDMA network is closed mid-2012, but the devices will no longer work in most overseas destinations. The operator added that EV-DO customers will continue to be able to use data on CDMA. However, they will not experience mobile broadband speeds, and the service will instead fall back onto slower CDMA technology. Telecom NZ said all CDMA voice and text services will remain in operation until mid-2012.

The operator was keen to praise the stronger performance of its new XT network compared to the older CDMA network. “The XT Network offers our customers a considerably better experience while both roaming overseas and using mobile broadband here in NZ,” noted head of network operations, Gemma Roper, in a statement. “This has resulted in many customers of these services moving over to XT already.” The operator added that the XT network enables customers to use their mobile phone in 70 more destinations around the world when compared with the older CDMA network, and the service is more consistent and user friendly. “As recent media reports have attested, the data service on XT is [also] considerably more advanced and offers a faster mobile broadband experience in more places compared to CDMA,” concluded Roper. Telecom New Zealand is the country’s dominant telecoms operator (and second-largest mobile operator) and launched its XT network in May 2009. There have been major teething issues with the network though, with the finger of blame reportedly being pointed at the operator’s network supplier, Alcatel-Lucent.