SEVERNLEA and Tabulam are set to benefit when 135 locations across regional and remote Australia receive an additional boost to mobile coverage under the Coalition Government’s Mobile Black Spot Programme.
Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash announced the mobile coverage boost during her visit to Stanthorpe at the weekend.
On top of the almost 500 new or upgraded base stations already being rolled out, an additional 135 ‘small cell’ 4G mini-base stations will provide a boost to local mobile data coverage in small towns across Australia.
Minister Nash made the announcement in Stanthorpe on Saturday, joined by LNP candidate for Maranoa, David Littleproud.
“I aim to help build the kinds of regional, rural and remote communities our children and grandchildren want to either stay in or come back to, and good communications are a big part of that,” Minister Nash said.
“The small cells will deliver improved mobile data coverage in a 200-300 metre radius around the site, helping residents and local business owners access the information and online services they need.
“Small cells are a great way of providing access to fast data services in regional and remote communities where it may not otherwise be economical to do so.
“These sites complement the new mobile base stations being rolled out under the Mobile Black Spot Programme by targeting small localised black spots where access to data services is a problem. In the future, these small cells will also be able to support voice services as the technology for 4G voice becomes available.”
Mr Littleproud welcomed the announcement and noted that round one of the program would deliver 499 base stations in total.
“The small cells sites we are announcing today will provide another boost to mobile coverage, building on the new or upgraded base stations covering around 3000 black spots nation-wide already being rolled out under the Coalition Government,” Mr Littleproud said on Saturday.
“The Coalition has committed an additional $120 million for two additional funding rounds, bringing the Coalition’s total investment in fixing mobile black spots to $220 million.
“These small cells will be great in the communities of Injune, Morven, Mungallala and Severnlea in my electorate.”
As the small cells currently provide a data-only service, mobile network operators are still able to apply for funding under round two to build new mobile base stations in locations that receive a small cell. Locations to be funded under round two of the program will be announced in the second half of 2016.
The Department of Communications and the Arts will continue to work with Telstra to identify opportunities for the deployment of additional small cells.
For more information visit: www.communications.gov.au/mobile_coverage
