XT coverage puzzle still unsolved

TEL

2.125

-0.02

-0.70%

Click for a detailed chart

Relevant offers

Gadgets

Chinese iPads seized in trademark dispute Laptop-shooting dad fights off fame How Rodney Brooks revolutionised robotics Review: Linksys Cisco E3200 dual band N router PS Vita: new kid on the block Review: Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer Review: Acer Aspire S3 Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S 3D printing: saviour or piracy tool? Apple in talks on iTV

Telecom executives were frustrated by the glitchy performance of their shiny new XT mobile network at a conference of local government information technology managers at Wairakei Resort.

That was until they found what they believed to be the source of the problem – a mobile cellsite in a trailer unit parked at the hotel that they thought was leaking transmissions into XT's frequencies. Ownership of the trailer was traced back to Vodafone.

Mike Manson, chief executive of the Association of Local Government Information Managers, the conference organisers, says the disruption to XT's service went away when the trailer unit was disconnected.

Vodafone disclaimed responsibility.

Corporate affairs manager Tom Chignell says the mobile cellsite could not have been to blame for XT reception problems. The cellsite was used in "3G-only mode" on Vodafone's 2.1GHz spectrum.

"Telecom's XT network works on 850MHz spectrum so there is no possible way there could have been any interference. It's a complete red herring. They have obviously got a coverage issue there."

Chris Quin, head of Telecom's Gen-i business unit, who was at the conference, says Telecom has good coverage of the resort from its fixed towers.

The Economic Development Ministry's radio spectrum compliance manager, Chris Brennan, had heard of an issue at Wairakei but there has been no formal compliant.

Sources said it was increasingly common for both companies to send mobile cellsites to conferences and sporting events to support customers using mobile data.

- © Fairfax NZ News