Nationwide upgrades to bring reliable phone service to remote areas
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Better mobile coverage is coming for ‘forgotten’ parts of Australia as the new Labor government delivers its election promise to connect regional communities.
A total of $66 million in Commonwealth and industry funding will build 41 new base stations to remedy unreliable mobile service in 42 target locations across the country.
This major infrastructure investment aims to narrow the persistent digital divide between urban and regional areas. Reliable phone and internet access has become essential for businesses, education, health, and social inclusion.
But too many rural places miss out, suffering patchy coverage or mobile 'blackspots' due to sparse population and challenging geography.
Michelle Rowland, the Communications Minister, emphasised that this effort aligns with the government's agenda to ‘narrow the digital divide’.
The government has approved all the cost-effective recommendations proposed by the department.
The benefits of this funding will extend to every state in Australia, as well as Jervis Bay. Notable areas set to experience improved coverage include popular tourist destinations like Kangaroo Valley, the Princes Highway between Batemans Bay and Eden, and the Snowy Mountains Highway.
Rowland further highlighted these grants' positive impact: ‘These successful grant outcomes will deliver improved coverage and quality of service for regional and remote communities, motorists and tourists in 42 target areas.’
While four locations were not granted funding, the government ensures they will still experience coverage improvements through alternative projects.
Rowland emphasised that enhancing mobile coverage is part of the government's mission to improve regional communication.
It complements the $1.1 billion better connectivity plan, representing the most significant investment in regional communication since establishing the National Broadband Network (NBN).
The funding for this mobile coverage improvement initiative was allocated in the October 2022 budget.
What are your thoughts on this news, members? Have you been having problems with connectivity in the outback? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
A total of $66 million in Commonwealth and industry funding will build 41 new base stations to remedy unreliable mobile service in 42 target locations across the country.
This major infrastructure investment aims to narrow the persistent digital divide between urban and regional areas. Reliable phone and internet access has become essential for businesses, education, health, and social inclusion.
But too many rural places miss out, suffering patchy coverage or mobile 'blackspots' due to sparse population and challenging geography.
Dozens of spots across Australia will soon have much more reliable mobile phone coverage following massive upgrades. Credit: Unsplash.
Michelle Rowland, the Communications Minister, emphasised that this effort aligns with the government's agenda to ‘narrow the digital divide’.
The government has approved all the cost-effective recommendations proposed by the department.
The benefits of this funding will extend to every state in Australia, as well as Jervis Bay. Notable areas set to experience improved coverage include popular tourist destinations like Kangaroo Valley, the Princes Highway between Batemans Bay and Eden, and the Snowy Mountains Highway.
Rowland further highlighted these grants' positive impact: ‘These successful grant outcomes will deliver improved coverage and quality of service for regional and remote communities, motorists and tourists in 42 target areas.’
While four locations were not granted funding, the government ensures they will still experience coverage improvements through alternative projects.
Rowland emphasised that enhancing mobile coverage is part of the government's mission to improve regional communication.
It complements the $1.1 billion better connectivity plan, representing the most significant investment in regional communication since establishing the National Broadband Network (NBN).
The funding for this mobile coverage improvement initiative was allocated in the October 2022 budget.
What are your thoughts on this news, members? Have you been having problems with connectivity in the outback? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
