Barkly region secures Vodafone coverage for the first time

A long-neglected Territory town has another choice in the battle-of-the-telcos. Read who’s arrived.

Tennant Creek will receive Vodafone coverage for the first time, with the telco expanding its Territory footprint as part of a larger national rollout.

From Thursday, Vodafone’s coverage in five regional Territory centres increased by a whopping 253 per cent, with 80.4 per cent of the Territory now covered by the telco.

As part of the rollout, coverage in the Daly, Tiwi Islands and West Arnhem will increase from one network tower at the site to seven, with the population capture increasing from 12.3 per cent to 17.2 per cent.

In Litchfield 10 network tower sites will expand to 15 with 98.5 per cent coverage and another three sites will be added at Alice Springs, marginally increasing total population coverage to 78.5 per cent.

The Barkly has improved mobile coverage.

Katherine has had one site expanded to three with the town’s coverage increasing slightly to 61.8 per cent.

But it is the Barkly where Vodafone’s expansion will be most felt.

The addition of its first Barkly site will bring the region’s coverage to 58.6 per cent from zero.

Vodafone general manager consumer sales Russell Turner said the company would access existing Optus towers and share spectrum, while operating its own network core.

He said prices would be comparable to other major providers with $39 for 100GB and $59 for 720GB.

“This doesn’t just benefit customers living within Tennant Creek and Barkly, it represents people that travel into that region every single day, week, month or year, family holidays et cetera,” he said.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Sid Vashist. Picture: Facebook

“So it’s a meaningful difference to both the residents of the area, and also those that are travelling their for tourism.

“Regional Australians are fed up with having to pay what they feel is a tax for regional mobile coverage. It’s essentially a bush tax. I can’t think of another place in the world where you have to pay a premium to get mobile coverage.

“Think about our lives without mobile coverage. It’s an essential service where you have to pay a premium to do it and that’s been going on for decades and it stops now.

“As of yesterday if you were driving through Tennant Creek you wouldn’t get a mobile service that connects you with the most important people in your lives.”

Barkly mayor Sid Vashist welcomed the new regional player.

“Its very welcoming to have a second player that comes to the Barkly and provide the coverage,” he said.

“In the 21st century we need more competition, we need more coverage and having Vodafone on the ground will be absolutely brilliant.”

Originally published as Barkly region secures Vodafone coverage for the first time