Telecom says it's on track to shut down its old mobile phone network in less than a week's time, even though it can't say how many people may still be using it.
Telecom customers using phones that are more than three years old will find next Tuesday - when the CDMA network closes - that they can't make calls, send texts, or dial 111.
The most recently published figures, from the end of 2011, show that there were still 639,000 customers using the CDMA network.
Days out from the shut down, Telecom was unable to provide updated figures of how many customers remain on the network, but a spokeswoman said the company's "on track for closure".
The spokeswoman told NZ Newswire there has been an increase in the number of CDMA phone users going into Telecom stores over the past few weeks.
"We are confident that there is good awareness of the network closure," she said.
Telecom has also been working with community groups like the Aged Care Association to ensure older mobile users, who may only use their phone as a back-up, or leave it in their glovebox, are aware of the network closure.
Telecom announced the closure of the CDMA network over a year ago.
The CDMA network was launched in 2001. It's being replaced by the XT network, which was launched in 2009.
Telecom says the XT network offers customers better speed, reliability and coverage.
NZN