Australia's Telstra closes old mobile phone network

MELBOURNE, April 15 (Reuters) - The Australian government said on Tuesday it will allow Telstra Corp Ltd (TLS.AX) to close its old CDMA mobile phone network from April 28 after problems with replacement coverage in rural areas were resolved.

The government had previously delayed the closure, originally scheduled for January, because of concerns the company's third-generation wireless network, called Next G, did not provide full coverage.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told reporters in Sydney that Telstra had sufficiently rectified the problems.

Telstra Country Wide managing director Geoff Booth said the vast majority of customers, including those in rural and regional areas, had already moved across to the Next G network.

He said in a statement Telstra would begin contacting the remaining customers immediately to urge them to switch. (Reporting by Victoria Thieberger)