Mobile coverage boosted in Atherton Tablelands

November 28, 2019

Mobile coverage boosted in Atherton Tablelands

People living and travelling through the Atherton Tablelands will now have better phone service to make calls, browse the internet and stay in contact with family and friends. 

The new mobile base station that went active in the township of Tinaroo on Thursday (Nov 28) will significantly improve phone service and 3G/4G data usage. 

North Queensland-based Senator Susan McDonald said reliable telecommunication was crucial to developing regional Queensland. 

“People throughout the North have raised the issue of poor mobile service and I’m pleased to be part of a Government that is listening and delivering,” she said.

“The new mobile base station is the latest of 750 sites across Australia to receive new or improved mobile coverage under the program.

“Our continued investment in mobile phone base stations is further proof of the Coalition’s commitment to connecting Australians, wherever they are, particularly in regional areas like the Atherton Tablelands.”

Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, Mark Coulton said the Coalition Government is committed to improving connectivity for people living in regional and rural areas. 

“The improved service is thanks to the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program, which is eradicating phone black spots across North and North West Queensland,” he said. 

“This government knows how frustrating it is to be talking on the phone and then lose service, so we’re getting on with the job of building more phone towers to deliver better service. 

“Not only will these towers make it easier for people to stay connected to family and friends, it will also make it easier to do business and access education.”

Minister Coulton said the first four rounds of this highly successful program are funding 1047 new base stations in areas that are not commercially viable without Coalition Government investment, with more than 750 of them already online delivering benefits.

“More than 35,000 Triple 0 calls have so far been made possible through the Mobile Black Spot Program,” he said. 

An additional $160 million in new funding for rounds five and six of the program was announced earlier this year to continue to improve phone service for people in Australia’s regions. 

FAST FACTS

This new mobile base station at Tinaroo, co-funded and delivered by Optus under the Mobile Black Spot Program, will deliver both 3G and 4G mobile services providing:

• • Over 50 km² of new handheld coverage to the township, Lake Tinaroo and the surrounding area;

  • new handheld coverage to more than 440 local premises; and

  • new and improved coverage to local roads such as Tinaroo Falls Dam Road and to sections of the adjacent Kennedy Highway.

  • The base station is being co-located on an existing NBN wireless tower on Lookout Road, reducing the need to build another tower in the area.

More information about the program is available at communications.gov.au/mbsp

MORE INFORMATION:

Steph Nicholl (Mr Coulton) (02) 6277 7495.

Julian Tomlinson (Sen. McDonald) – 0421 059 187