Joint Media Release with Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts the Hon Paul Fletcher MP and Minister for Regional Communications, Regional Health and Local Government, the Hon Mark Coulton MP
People living and travelling through Corangamite will now have better phone service to make calls, browse the internet and stay connected with family and friends.
The new mobile base stations now turned on will significantly improve phone service in Maude and Teesdale.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts the Hon Paul Fletcher MP said the switch on of the new mobile base station in both locations under the Mobile Black Spot Program reflects the Morrison-McCormack Government’s commitment to further improving connectivity in the regions.
“This significant investment as part of the Mobile Black Spot Program means that people living, working and travelling in Corangamite will now have better mobile coverage. This is especially important following this summer’s devastating bushfires,” Minister Fletcher said.
“While no telecommunications network is 100 per cent impervious to damage from natural disasters, Australians naturally want to be confident our communications networks are as resilient as possible. The Mobile Black Spot Program is an important part of this as it provides an alternative communications option if another network goes down during an emergency situation.
“The first four rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program are funding more than 1,047 mobile base stations around Australia, with more than 800 of these already on air and providing much needed mobile connectivity to rural and regional areas.”
Minister for Regional Communications, Regional Health and Local Government, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, said the Coalition Government is committed to improving connectivity for people living in regional and rural areas.
“The improved service is thanks to the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program, which is eradicating phone black spots across Corangamite,” Minister Coulton said.
“This Government knows how frustrating it is to be talking on the phone or browsing the internet and then lose service, so we’re getting on with the job of building more phone towers to deliver better service.
“Not only will these towers make it easier for people to stay connected to family and friends, it will also make it easier to do business and access education.”
Minister Coulton said more than 37,000 Triple 0 calls have so far been made possible through the Mobile Black Spot Program.
Senator Sarah Henderson said she was pleased that local residents and businesses would now have better service in more locations.
“Local residents have long raised the issue of poor service in parts of Corangamite and I’m pleased to be part of a Government that is listening and delivering,” Senator Henderson said.
“The new mobile base station was completed by Telstra and is the latest of 799 base station sites across the country to receive new or improved mobile coverage under the program.
“Our continued investment in mobile phone base stations is further proof of the Coalition’s commitment to connecting Australians, wherever they are, particularly in regional towns like Maude and Teesdale.”
An additional $160 million in new funding for rounds five and six of the program was announced in 2019 to continue to improve phone service for people in Australia’s regions.
More information about the program is available at www.communications.gov.au/mbsp.
3 April 2020