Fed: Farmers welcome Telstra s $350m rural upgrade

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
Fed: Farmers welcome Telstra s $350m rural upgrade

CANBERRA, April 12 AAP - Farmers today welcomed Telstra's $350 million upgrade of regional
phone lines but said the carrier still needed to improve its performance.

The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) said telecommunications services should be just
as good in the country as they are in the city.

"Telstra's performance for fault clearance in rural and remote areas in still at the
86 per cent and 74 per cent levels respectively, even with a general upward trend in overall
performance on a national basis," NFF president Ian Donges said in a statement.

"Quality and service level standards should be the same for all Australians irrespective
of the size of the community they live in, or the outdated telecommunications call zone
they live in."

AAP kmh/mfh/sk

KEYWORD: TELSTRA UPGRADE FARMERS

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.