Improved mobile coverage for Wratten’s Forest
People in Wratten’s Forest will have improved mobile phone coverage under Round 5 of the Coalition Government’s highly successful $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.
“Round 5 of the program prioritised community hubs and I am pleased that Telstra will receive funding to improve reception at the Barambah Environmental Education Centre,” Mr O’Brien said.
“By improving mobile phone reception at Barambah, it will help increase the Education Centre’s ability to deliver quality educational programs, as well as providing overall improved service for all mobile phone users who live in the area or are travelling through it.”
The Australian Government has committed $3.4 million under the Mobile Black Spot Program to date in Wide Bay to deliver new and improved mobile coverage through a total of 18 mobile base stations have been funded to improve communication services in the electorate.
To date, 12 base stations are complete and now on air, at Glastonbury, Kin Kin, Maryborough-Biggenden Road, Widgee, Wooloolga, Maaroom, Pomona-Kin Kin Road, Tansey, Wide Bay Highway at Cinnabar, Windera, Yerra and Poona.
New infrastructure at blackspots on Boreen Point, Cootharaba Road, Wide Bay Highway at Oakview, Central Stations Camp Ground and Eugarie at Fraser Island is expected to be complete this year.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP said Round 5 of the program will fund a further 182 new base stations for regional and remote communities across Australia.
“The announcement of successful Round 5 locations today brings the total number of base stations being funded under the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program to 1,229, underlining our ongoing commitment to providing new and improved mobile connectivity to Australians across the country.”
“Improved mobile connectivity makes it possible for Australians to stay connected, access education services, conduct business and remain in contact with family and friends. These activities are critical year-round, but particularly important with people responding to the COVID-19 crisis and spending more time at home,” Minister Fletcher said.
The Federal Government is contributing a total of $34 million to Round 5 of the Program, which will deliver total new investment of more than $73 million together with co-contributions from the funding recipients and state governments.
More than $836 million is being invested in new mobile infrastructure in regional and remote Australia across the five rounds.
This comes as the Mobile Black Spot Program passes a significant milestone with more than 800 mobile base stations now on air across Australia, meaning more coverage in more rural areas.
“More than 77 per cent of the 1047 base stations funded through the first four rounds of the Program are now complete taking us past the 800 mobile base station milestone. I thank Telstra, Optus and Vodafone for their work in getting us to this point, and importantly for their ongoing commitment to the Program,” Minister Fletcher said.
Round 5 base stations are scheduled to roll out in the coming months with the first new base stations expected to be activated by the end of the year.
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