The Optus upgrade aims to reduce mobile outages in large coverage areas and increasing the bandwidth and availability of the network, which will be less dependent on aggregators.

It will also offer multiple diverse routes to reach the network towers to minimise coverage holes in the region.

Additionally, the upgrades incorporate both newly-installed underground and aerial hardware to combat remote and rugged terrain.

Optus and Delta Electronics, operating under the Eltek brand, also rolled out Critical Power eXtenders, a unique backup battery solution that powers mobile sits and can operate for an additional 10 to 20 hours of service if the transmission hub’s power grid fails.

“The extra 10 to 20 hours gives power authorities the critical time needed to restore services or allow Optus to access a site safely with a portable generator, especially if the area is impacted by extreme weather or natural disaster,” said Optus territory general manager for Northern NSW Chris Simon.

The upgrade is timely following the 2019 summer fires which disrupted the mobile connectivity, emergency radio broadcast, and power outages of many Taree residents.

“Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast consulted with Councils throughout the region for our submission to the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review. We identified dire telecommunications access issues across the region which are exacerbated in times of disaster. We are delighted to see this initiative by Optus and thoroughly believe it will play a key role in keeping our communities safe,” said Regional Development Australia Mid-North Coast director of regional development Kelly Grace.

Optus introduced interim measures during the 2019/2020 bushfires. It also supported evacuation centres with charging stations, pre-paid data SIMs, and provided emergency services workers with satellite phones.

The local teams reinstated the mains power, deployed mobile generators, and worked with emergency services and local authorities to access mobile towers where it was safe to do so.

Following the devastating bushfire season in 2019/2020, the NSW Government conducted a Bushfire Inquiry. Its Final Report stated that throughout the fires, the community valued telecommunication above all other services.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 27 January 2023.