Residents and visitors in the Landsborough West area will see significant improvements in mobile coverage and connectivity from today after the launch of a new mobile base station to eliminate blackspots in the area.
The service is one of 109 new mobile base stations that was selected as part of the Andrews Labor Government and Telstra’s successful joint bid under round one of the Commonwealth’s $100 million Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP).
Landsborough West, near Stawell, is a brand new base station providing expanded 3G/4G mobile coverage for residents and businesses in the area. It is the first mobile base station to be built in the area under the program. Other towers will be rolled out in Moonambel and Landsborough/Frenchmans over the next two years.
To date, 30 of the 109 mobile base stations from round one of the MBSP have been constructed and activated in Victoria, with another 26 sites expected to be up and running by mid-2017.
The sites selected will radically improve mobile coverage and connectivity for up to 12,000 households and businesses across regional Victoria and are expected to boost the state’s regional economy by $120 million per year.
They will also enable improved public safety and access to emergency management information in the event of a natural disaster such as bushfires.
It was recently announced that a further 32 mobile towers will be funded in Victoria through the Labor Government’s joint bid with Telstra and Optus under round two of the MBSP.
The Labor Government will continue to explore opportunities to work with the Commonwealth, local governments and mobile carriers to provide additional mobile coverage to Victorian communities that missed out on funding in rounds one and two.
A full list of locations being funded under the MBSP is available at www.communications.gov.au/mobile_coverage.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis
“The Andrews Labor Government is improving mobile connectivity in regional Victoria, ensuring communities like Landsborough West can access reliable mobile services when they need them most.”
“We will continue to advocate to the Commonwealth with carriers and local government to ensure Victoria’s most disconnected communities receive the funding they need.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“Having mobile coverage is a lifeline for people in rural Victoria. Being better connected is essential for public safety, tourism, primary production, business growth and access to health and education services.”
“We have worked with Emergency Management Victoria, councils and community groups to prioritise towns and districts that need better connections the most – and we will continue to advocate for them.”
Victoria State Goverment Media Release – 16th Jan 2017
