Coalition delivers improved mobile phone coverage in Wide Bay

13/02/2018

Coalition delivers improved mobile phone coverage in Wide Bay

Windera mobile phone users will enjoy improved coverage with a new mobile base station switched on today, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced.

The Windera base station was funded under round 2 of the Australian Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, and another new station is set to be switched on soon at Tansey through the program.
 
“I’m proud to announce new mobile phone coverage for the Windera and Tansey communities, which will provide improved convenience, safety, and business opportunities for locals,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“As someone who has lived and worked in regional areas for many years, and relied heavily on telecommunications, I understand the importance of adequate mobile phone reception and am working hard to improve access wherever possible in the Wide Bay.
 
“As a former police officer, I know that mobile phone coverage makes a big difference in times of emergency or natural disaster and these improvements will better connect locals to services and make these communities safer.
 
“Round 2 of the Coalition’s Mobile Black Spot Program will deliver new or upgraded coverage to 6500 homes and business across 17,500 square kilometres via 266 new or upgraded towers. This includes 1900 kilometres of major transport routes.
 
“Labor did not help build a single mobile phone tower nor invest a single cent in mobile coverage in six years of Government, so I am proud to be delivering better mobile coverage to Wide Bay.”
 
Minister for Regional Communications Bridget McKenzie praised the program.
 
“In total, Rounds 1 and 2 of the Coalition’s Program will deliver new coverage to 32,000 homes and businesses across 86,000 square kilometres including 7600 of major transport routes via 765 new mobile phone towers,” Minister McKenzie said.
 
“I aim to help build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and better mobile phone coverage is a big part of that.”
 
Mr O’Brien said including co-contributions from carriers and state governments, round 2 represents a total new investment of $213 million towards improved mobile coverage.
 
The locations for round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Program were selected following an appeal to the public to nominate black spots.
 
These locations were entered into the national map which was provided to mobile network providers to assist them to develop funding applications. These were assessed against the program guidelines by the Department of Communications and the Minister accepted the Department’s recommendations without change.