Govt delivers first mobile base stations

The first mobile base stations constructed under the federal government's $385 million Mobile Black Spot Programme have now been switched on in Marlborough and Quilpie in Queensland and Deniliquin in New South Wales.

An additional base station in New South Wales will follow shortly, along with others in the coming weeks.

A public consultation process was used allowing people to nominate mobile black spot areas.

Minister for Communications Senator Fifield said the program has reached a significant milestone by delivering on the start of 499 new and upgraded mobile base stations set for regional and remote areas.

“In the coming months, more base stations across Australia will come online, funded through Round 1 of the program, which will provide new or upgraded mobile coverage to some 3000 nominated mobile black spots announced in June 2015,” Minister Fifield said.

The stations will provide handheld coverage to 68,600 square kilometres and new external antenna coverage to more than 150,000 square kilometres, while more than 5700 kilometres of major transport routes will receive new handheld or external antenna coverage.

The initiative is the largest one-time increase in mobile network coverage delivered by a single public funding program in the history of mobile communications in Australia.

Black spot nominations for Round 2 of the Programme close by 31 December 2015 and can be made online at www.communications.gov.au/blackspots.

The government said it will invest an additional $60 million in improving mobile coverage for Round 2.