The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) in conjunction with Telstra, Vodafone and Optus, is stepping up the education campaign about the closure of the analogue mobile network.
The campaign, funded by the mobile network operators, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone as well as the government, will include market research, parliamentary briefings, meetings with consumer, small business and industry representatives and information brochures.
The ACA Analogue Closure Hotline will also continue to operate until the network is closed.
According to Robyn Meikle, project manager for the ACA's Analogue Public Education Program, the government recently boosted funding for the campaign with the addition of $600,000 outlined in the last federal Budget.
As already reported, most of the analogue network, including metropolitan and regional areas, will close on December 31, 1999.
In other regions, including Tasmania and the Northern Territory, the service will continue into 2000 but will be closed during the year.
Meikle said: "More than 80 per cent of current analogue users will need to change to another type of mobile system before the analogue network is closed in metropolitan and rural areas on December 31, 1999.
"If they don't, they won't be able to make any calls because their analogue phone simply won't work from New Year's Day."