Optus has switched on a tower in Winninowie as part of the Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Governments Mobile Black Spot Program. The mobile tower will provide extended Optus coverage and connectivity for the local community.
The Optus mobile tower in Winninowie will provide enhanced mobile coverage to 63 premises in the local area, with 179 sq kms covered including 24km of major roads and railways.
Rob Seymour, Optus Territory General Manager for regional South Australia is proud to be providing more of regional and rural South Australia with mobile competition and choice.
Were thrilled to be continuing to roll out our best network ever and offer more customers much-needed access to our fast 4G service.
The Winninowie tower will provide our customers with greater communication while living, working and driving through the region by helping to facilitate contact with family and friends throughout the country.
The investment in expanding Optus telecommunications infrastructure and mobile coverage is supported by the Federal Governments Mobile Black Spot Program, and we recognise the work of the Federal and State Governments, local businesses and communities for their support.
The new tower will also allow competition and choice for local businesses and residents by offering our best network ever at a great value. We are committed to giving our customers access to reliable mobile coverage and high-quality internet added Mr Seymour.
Minister for Regional Communications, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, said the activation of the new tower was part of the Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Governments commitment to support connectivity in regional areas.
The Liberal and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Governments priority is to provide all Australians with better access to reliable communication services, which is why we have committed $380 million to the Mobile Black Spot Program to improve mobile coverage and competition across regional and remote communities.
This is just another of more than 1,270 new mobile base stations funded under the program to date, with over 990 of these base stations now on air, including 66 in South Australia. I am delighted to see this rollout continue, Minister McKenzie said.
Federal Member for Grey, Mr Rowan Ramsey MP, said the tower would be of significant benefit to the community.
This is a relatively remote site which relies on the tourism industry and with the reliance we place on communications in this modern world tourists are becoming increasingly uneasy venturing into areas which do not have coverage, Mr Ramsey said. This tower will make a difference.
We have been fortunate in obtaining close to fifty new sites under the existing program, one that has only ever existed under Coalition Governments and all the while, the networks keep extending their reach outside the program, he said. Of course, there are still gaps, under current technology there always will be, but we are systematically filling them in, he said.
Optus continues to invest to improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its mobile network, with this new tower providing a competitive telecommunications alternative for residents and businesses.
ABOUT THE MOBILE BLACK SPOT PROGRAM
The Mobile Black Spot Program is an Australian Government initiative to improve and extend mobile phone coverage and increase competition in regional and remote Australia.
The Australian Government has committed $380 million to this Program, which has been supported by State Governments, local governments, businesses, community organisations and telecommunications providers.
As part of the Australian Governments Mobile Black Spot Program, Optus has been awarded funding for 256 sites in regional and remote parts of Australia.
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Optus Corporate Affairs
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