Mobile phone coverage in Warren-Blackwood will be improved thanks to a further $20 million investment over two years made possible by Royalties for Regions.
Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman said the funding would support the list of sites released today by the Commonwealth Government which outlined 78 new mobile base stations and small cell satellite installations to be constructed by Telstra and Optus across WA.
While Telstra is providing wide area coverage, Optus small cell satellite solution is an innovative means of providing mobile phone coverage up to a three kilometre radius for communities and tourist hotspots in remote parts of the State, where wide area coverage is unaffordable.
“The new sites will be delivered under Round 2 of the Commonwealth’s Mobile Black Spot Program further improving mobile phone coverage in regional WA,” Mr Redman said.
“Warren-Blackwood will benefit from nine of the 78 announced today, which will provide development opportunities for small businesses in remote areas and support other Royalties for Regions initiatives in tourism, transport and agriculture.
“It is good to see that tourist areas at Margaret River including Conto’s Campsite and Deepdene, and the Greater Beedelup National Park and Warren National Park in Manjimup are to receive improved coverage. Nannup (Jangardup Road and Strickland Road), Bridgetown- Greenbushes (Maranup and Winnejup) and Denmark (Mt Lindesay Road) will also benefit from this latest announcement which will provide reassurance to people living in these hilly and often fire prone areas,” Mr Redman said.
“The State Government has invested more than $105 million from Royalties for Regions in regional telecommunications since 2012, driving the construction of 344 new or upgraded mobile phone towers and small cell satellite installations in regional WA.
“This project is a result of successful collaboration with the Commonwealth and industry, which will support other Royalties for Regions initiatives and narrow the digital divide by eliminating mobile black spots at prioritised locations, including those in the Warren-Blackwood.”
The RTP is an important project that will ensure that people living, working and travelling in regional areas of the state have access to key services.
“Royalties for Regions is playing a significant role in transforming regional areas and I look forward to seeing this investment bring greater social and economic benefits to the area,” Mr Redman said.
Full list of sites attached. For more information, visit: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/regionalmobilecommunications