New mobile base stations are set to be built at Wyoming and Matcham-Holgate subject to local planning approvals.
With mobile coverage in the two areas being erratic for years, residents will welcome new funding from the Federal Government’s Improving Mobile Coverage Round to be used as a co-investment with Telstra to build the new stations.
The applications were independently assessed and approved by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Art (the Department), following a competitive grant process to identify a value for money solution in the area.
The rollout schedule will be published on the Telstra website once contracts have been executed.
The towers were pledged by Federal Member for Dobell Emma McBride and the then Shadow Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland prior to the 2022 Federal election.
McBride said the two new towers were vital community projects.
“Quality mobile coverage is not a luxury or a nice-to-have – it’s essential 21st century infrastructure,” she said.
“I look forward to seeing the benefits flow through the community as the project is rolled out.”
Now the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland said the Government had an ambitious agenda to narrow the digital divide in rural and regional Australia which included improved mobile coverage.
The Government is also working to improve regional coverage through its $1.1B Better Connectivity Plan.
The plan commits $400M to expanding mobile coverage and improving communications resilience, including investment to fund future rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program, and $200M to fund place-based communications solutions through additional rounds of the Regional Connectivity Program.
For more information, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/mbsp
Source:
Member for Dobell Emma McBride