MOBILE coverage in regional SA is expected to benefit from 17 new base stations, announced today as part of the Round 5 of the Mobile Black Spot Program.
The breakdown includes three towers in the South East, five in pastoral areas - with four of those along the Outback Highway, four on the West Coast, two in the Mallee, and one each in the Adelaide Hills, Murraylands and Mid North.
Federal Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Minister Paul Fletcher said this announcement bought the total number of federally-funded base stations in SA to 83.
"Improved mobile connectivity makes it possible for Australians to stay connected, access education services, conduct business and remain in contact with family and friends," he said.
"These activities are critical year-round, but particularly important with people responding to the COVID-19 crisis and spending more time at home."
SA Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone said ensuring effective mobile communications in regional areas was an essential part of driving the state's economic growth.
"The announcement of these locations for new base stations is a significant step forward in our regional areas towards addressing this ongoing mobile black spot problem, an issue which has been identified by the state government as a priority," he said.
"SA's regions contribute approximately $25 billion a year to the state's economy and connectivity is essential not only to driving regional growth but also the economic growth for the whole state."
Round 5 base stations are scheduled to roll out in the coming months with the first new base stations expected to be activated by the end of the year.
Under Round 5, $7.9 million will be invested in mobile infrastructure in SA. This includes $3.8 million funding from the Commonwealth and more than $900,000 from the SA government.
This round had $80m in federal funding made available, with $34m of that allocated, with the government saying it allocated funding to proposals that "offered value for money to taxpayers and meet the guidelines for the round".
Nationally, this will cover 185 towers, alongside $73m in co-contributions from the funding recipients and state governments.
In it's release, the government said "with each successive round, the base stations being funded are less economic for the mobile network operators".
"This fact, and the results from Round 5, suggest that fewer sites are likely to be successfully funded if future rounds are held under the existing program design," it said.
Across the five rounds, the Mobile Black Spot Program has already generated a total investment of more than $836m Australia-wide, including co-contributions from the states and mobile network operators, which is funding the delivery of 1229 new mobile base stations.
So far just over 800 of these base stations are operational.
The government intends that the next step in the Mobile Black Spots program will be to conduct a Round 5A, which will be used to test a range of different program designs. Funding for round 5A will be drawn from the unused portion of the funding allocated to Round 5.
The existing program design has served Australia very well. However, with each successive round, the base stations being funded are less economic for the mobile network operators. This fact, and the results from Round 5, suggest that fewer sites are likely to be successfully funded if future rounds are held under the existing program design.
A discussion paper to consult on the different program designs which could be tested under the future Round 5A has been released today.
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The paper proposes three main objectives will be to improve mobile connectivity along major transport corridors, improve mobile connectivity in disaster-prone regions and test new technologies that support shared mobile coverage in regional areas.
A decision on the timing of Round 5A will be taken once responses to the discussion paper have been received and considered.
Telstra group executive of networks and IT Nikos Katinakis said connection was important during these times.
"Whether that is through remote schooling, working from home or just staying socially connected through video calling and social media," he said.
"We are proud that we have delivered hundreds of mobile base stations and invested $280 million to deliver coverage to our most regional and remote customers."
Optus Regulatory and Public Affairs vice president Andrew Sheridan said Optus was a strong supporter of the federal government's Mobile Black Spot Program, which is bringing coverage and competition to regional Australia, in many places for the first time.
"It's fantastic news that communities in Barker will soon be benefitting from improved mobile connectivity provided by these six new base stations. I am particularly relieved that one of these additional towers will be built at Keilira, which sustained such extensive damage as a result of the bushfire earlier this year," Mr Pasin said.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said he was pleased to hear five new base stations were being built in his electorate.
"Improved mobile coverage will help family and friends connect, access quality education and health services, do business and provide potentially lifesaving lifelines during emergencies such as bushfires," he said.
"I am particularly relieved that one of these additional towers will be built at Keilira, which sustained such extensive damage as a result of the bushfire earlier this year.
"Whilst there is always more work to do to address the many mobile phone blackspots across Barker this is a welcome step in the right direction."
The 17 base stations - and their providers - for SA are:
- Avenue Range - Optus
- Keilira - Optus
- Legges Lane - Optus
- Kuitpo - Optus
- Paruna - Optus
- Peebinga - Optus
- Wellington - Optus
- Farina SA Telstra
- Fowlers Bay - Telstra
- Koonibba - Telstra
- Leigh Creek Copley - Optus
- Leigh Creek Town - Optus
- Lyndhurst - Optus
- Mintabie - Telstra
- Mudamuckla - Telstra
- Nundroo Roadhouse - Telstra
- Yongala Township - Telstra
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