Mobile blackspots: Labor confirms $250m for Victoria communications
More than 1100 mobile blackspots across regional Victoria are set to be eradicated. Search our interactive map and see if your town made the list.
More than 300 new mobile phone tower locations have been confirmed this week as part of a blackspot eradication strategy.
Overall, 1108 projects will be bankrolled as part of the $250 million package, with several hundred refurbishments of existing mobile transmitters to improve phone reception.
Maryborough, Mount Buller, Clyde North, Bairnsdale, Toongabbie, Bright, Teesdale, Arnold and Drysdale are just a handful of the several hundred communities that would benefit.
State Innovation Minister Jaala Pulford made the funding announcement today, with projects to be delivered in conjunction with five telecommunication providers.
“This program, funded in November 2020, expands regional Victoria’s telecommunications capacity across 1100 locations,” Ms Pulford said.
“Over two million households will have faster speeds for healthcare, school, work and staying in touch with loved ones.”
Alongside telco companies Axicom, ENE. HUB, Optus, Telstra and TPG Telecom, Ms Pulford confirmed 309 new mobile tower locations as part of the initative.
A further 492 towers will be boosted to a 5G connection, while 170 towers will be adapted for use by multiple telecommunications providers and another 137 towers will be upgraded to make them more bushfire- and weather-proof.
Today’s announcement follows concerns from agricultural leaders about mobile phone connectivity ahead of bushfire season.
In February, BlazeAid founder Kevin Butler called for a major five to 10-year funding commitment to boosting battery backup capacity, especially in areas of high bushfire risk.
Last month, the Victorian Coalition pledged to spend $150 million on mobile booster rebates, black spots and boosting mobile tower battery backups, if elected on November 26.
National Party state leader Peter Walsh said: “It’s particularly important for smaller rural communities where we’ve seen banks and government services move to online-only – it leaves people who can’t get a signal behind.”
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