Wednesday, 1 November 2017

The Andrews Labor Government is partnering with Optus to build 25 new mobile towers throughout regional Victoria – providing 5,000 households and businesses with new mobile coverage.

Communities in and around the Yarra Ranges and Gippsland will benefit from the announcement with new towers in Thorpdale, Willow Grove and Leongatha South to offer consistent mobile coverage to more than 1000 premises that previously had poor or no mobile services.

Telecommunications infrastructure is crucial for the growth, liveability and safety of regional Victorian households and businesses, and more will be connected than ever before.

Over 166 regional communities are now being connected to mobile data and calls thanks to the Victorian Government’s new mobile towers across the state – 41 of these with Optus.

The 25 co-funded mobile towers will be constructed all over Victoria with 15 local government areas to benefit with a priority placed on bushfire prone areas.

The first tower in Nanneella in the state’s north is already up and running with the remaining sites to be completed by the end of 2018.

The Labor Government is improving connectivity in regional Victoria by delivering free public WiFi in Bendigo and Ballarat, improving coverage for commuters on regional rail and announcing the new $45 million Connecting Regional Communities Program in the Victorian Budget 2017/18.

Locations of Gippsland mobile towers co-funded by the Victorian Government and Optus:

2 x Baw Baw – Thorpdale and Willow Grove

1 x South Gippsland – Leongatha South

Quotes attributable to Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy Philip Dalidakis

“Those living in regional Victoria deserve better mobile coverage in their homes, workplaces and while they travel, and we thank Optus for helping us get on with the job of delivering it.”

“We’ve invested almost $31 million in 166 new mobile towers across Victoria, connecting 20,000 premises that previously had no or poor mobile coverage.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford

“Community safety is our number one priority. We’ve worked closely with Emergency Management Victoria to ensure our regional communities in these areas have mobile access.”

“Mobile connectivity is vital for our regional economy – that’s why we’re working with industry to deliver projects that give regional Victorians access to the same technology as those in our cities.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“New mobile towers in Gippsland will improve coverage, connectivity and reliability for phone users across large areas – this is a much-needed productivity boost for towns and businesses and will also improve community safety.”

Quotes attributable to Optus Vice President of Regulatory and Public Affairs Andrew Sheridan

“Earlier this year Optus demonstrated its commitment to regional Australia by announcing a $1 billion investment to improve mobile coverage outside of metro areas and this announcement supports that commitment.”