Future Cairns liveability: Optus on what needs to be done to make internet accessible and fast

New arrivals to an expanding Far North will require fast internet to live and work. Here are three steps being taken to get us better connected.

As the city grows and more people from down south move to the region, the key will be ensuring access to internet at fast speeds, and one major telco has a plan for the coming years.

Cairns Chamber of Commerce chief executive Patricia O’Neill said internet access will be important to make sure the region gets the workers it needs.

“In terms of the people we want to attract, we have gaps across all industry sectors for skilled and unskilled, however the greater need is across health and social services,” she said.

“We need to improve digital communications in terms of Wi-Fi, NBN, because we have a very poor reception in regional Australia.

“That includes pockets of Cairns.”

Optus North Queensland general manager Dave Morrissey. Picture: Supplied

Optus North Queensland general manager Dave Morrissey said there was a three-point plan to growth. The first was improving the density of the network, the second was expanding the footprint, and the third was upgrading technology as time goes by.

“We need to improve the density of the network, which means where you are within major centres like Cairns, Tablelands, Palm Cove and Port Douglas – the density of the network and the capacity is enough to flex for increased number of users,” he said.

“We build that extra capacity through frequency management.”

“During peak tourism cycles we make sure the network is there. We have a major events calendar where we would put extra capacity at peak times.”

Mr Morrissey said they have invested heavily to expand the footprint since 2015.

“We have spent more than $7b on the mobile network. More than half of that has been since 2015,” he said

A new tower was recently turned on at Mayers Street, Manunda.

New Optus mobile tower at Manunda. Picture: Supplied.

“We believe digital connectivity is vital for people living in Manoora and Manunda,” he said.

“The installation of the new tower will provide residents a better user experience with the network, higher-quality voice calls, and faster downloads through the introduction of Optus 5G.

Cairns Colonial Club Resort general manager Damian Lyth said it was vital for business.

“Like most businesses, we rely heavily on being constantly connected,” he said.

“Whether it’s a video call to family or a conference call, having that connectivity is essential for our guests.”

Originally published as Future Cairns liveability: Optus on what needs to be done to make internet accessible and fast