New Research Gives Wcdma Thumbs Up for Hearing Impaired

New research shows Telstra's WCDMA (Next G) network produces a slightly lower level of interference than the CDMA network for the hearing impaired and a significant less interference found with GSM mobiles.

The study by the National Acoustic Laboratories found Telstra's Next G network was unlikely to create any audible interference for the more than 450,000 plus Australians with hearing aids and cochlear implants.

National President, Better Hearing Australia, Mr Alan Keir, said hearing aid users were likely to experience significantly more audible interference from a standard 2G mobile than a Next G device. "For hearing impaired people, it's very important to minimise the discomfort and inconvenience of using a mobile phone," Mr Keir said.

elstra's Manager of Disability Services, Mr Bert Ciavarra, said Australians with a hearing impairment need mobile phones that are interference free.

"We've always promised the Next G network would be the same or better than the aging CDMA network and this commitment extends to the specific needs of the people in our community with a hearing impairment," Mr. Ciavarra said.

Mr Keir said coverage was also an important consideration, with Telstra's Next G network reaching to 98.8 per cent of the population - more coverage area than the old CDMA network.

Better Hearing Australia is a non-profit, self-help organisation controlled by its members and provides an Australia-wide community support service of rehabilitation and help for Australians with hearing impairment.

Posted to the site on 21st September 2007