Major mobile coverage boost for Wide Bay

6 April 2018

Major mobile coverage boost for Wide Bay

The Coalition Government has committed $220 million to the Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) to extend and improve mobile coverage and competition across Australia and has today announced that all 125 identified priority black spot locations will receive improved mobile coverage

Member for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien MP, has welcomed this news and said that Wide Bay residents in the two nominated priority locations can look forward to improved mobile coverage.

“It’s great to announce the confirmation of my election commitments to extend the mobile phone network at both Poona and along the Wide Bay Highway,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Residents in Poona will receive a Telstra macro base station under this round of the program, which will provide new and improved Telstra coverage to Poona and the surrounding area, in particular Cockatoo Crescent and Poona Road.

“This is also good news for motorists using the Wide Bay Highway where a new base station will provide improved Telstra mobile coverage between Kilkivan and Woolooga.

“I frequently travel along the Wide Bay Highway through this black spot area.  It will be much safer for motorists once network coverage is extended along this stretch of the highway, allowing them to call for help in times of emergency.

“The funding for these priority locations will also provide for at least 12 hours of back-up power at each macro base station to help ensure mobile coverage is not lost in the event of a power outage.”

Minister for Regional Communications, Senator Bridget McKenzie said that Optus, Telstra and Vodafone will receive $45.6 million in Commonwealth funding to build 102 new base stations under the Priority Locations round of the program

“This program has now grown into more than $680 million in total investment across the three rounds of this program.  This significant investment is great news for thousands of people across Australia who live, work and invest in these local communities.  This investment also further extends the mobile coverage network for those travelling to these areas,” Minister McKenzie said.

The base station rollout schedules for all three rounds of the program will be available in the coming weeks on the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone websites. 

More information about the program and a list of the priority locations is available at: communications.gov.au/mbsp
ENDS