In Round Four, Telstra will build a mixture of new mobile base stations and small cells, contributing $23.3 million of the $55.6 million co-investment required for the new sites.
And the Queensland, South Australian, Victorian and Western Australian State Governments are contributing a combined $14.3 million and the Commonwealth is contributing $18 million.
Under the Mobile Black Spot Program, Telstra says it has to date delivered more than 550 new mobile base stations across Australia, “delivering new and improved coverage, economic benefits and opportunities for customers living in regional and remote locations”.
Telstra chief executive Andy Penn said the use of small cell technology was an innovative, cost-effective approach to fixing black spots.
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“Mobile coverage means people and businesses in regional and remote communities can do things many in the city take for granted. Whether it is streaming sports, movies and television, working remotely or just staying in touch.”
Over the five years to June 2019, Telstra says its total mobile network investment will total around $8 billion, of which almost $3 billion will have been invested in regional areas.
According to Telstra, the Mobile Black Spot Program is an example of the effectiveness of Government partnering with the private sector to deliver benefits for communities.
“Our investments will help towns and communities relying on mobile connected devices more than ever before,” Penn said.
“The partnerships we have formed with Governments at all levels are providing connectivity and services to many areas of Australia where it was otherwise uneconomical to do so.”
Telstra says its mobile network is supported by more than 9900 mobile base stations covering more than 2.5 million square kilometres and reaching 99.5% of the Australian population.
