THE Wongan Hills community will experience improved mobile coverage and wireless broadband service with a new Telstra Mobile Network base station now operating in the area.
Telstra Area General Manager Alan Shepherdson said the local community will have access to advanced voice and data services thanks to the new tower.
The new tower is one of 23 mobile base stations being built as part of the State Government’s new Regional Telecommunications Project (RTP) aimed at delivering additional mobile communications to regional and remote Western Australia.
“Residents and businesses in and around Wongan Hills will experience improved mobile coverage both in the town and the surrounding areas following installation of the new base station.
This means they can use mobile phones, tablets and other wireless devices with fewer drop outs in more places,” Mr Shepherdson said.
“This new base station will help the local Wongan Hill community to connect to next generation broadband services with faster speeds.”
Mr Shepherdson said the enhanced mobile coverage was also a welcome and important boost for local emergency services.
He said it was reassuring for police, firefighters and ambulance officers knowing there was improved mobile coverage in the area to help contact the community during an emergency.
“Improved mobile coverage can assist in emergencies, particularly in getting alerts out to the community during the fire season,” he said.
“Nonetheless, a mobile phone network should not be relied upon as the sole means of emergency communications.”
The RTP is managed by the Western Australian Department of Commerce in consultation with the Department of Regional Development.
The State Government’s Royalties for Regions program has contributed $10 million towards the project.
In partnership with Telstra the project will deliver $27 million in value to the state and is expected to take two years to complete.
The RTP builds on the success of the Regional Mobile Communications Project (RMCP) which provided 113 new base stations across the State.
As a result of the RMCP Telstra increased its geographic coverage area by 31 per cent in Western Australia - from 430,000 km2 to around 567,000 km2.
“Projects like this are helping those in rural towns to experience Telstra’s mobile network.
With computers, laptops, tablets and mobiles, customers can connect to Australia’s largest and most reliable national mobile network,” Mr Shepherdson said.
To find out more about the Telstra Mobile Network and services visit http://www.telstra.com/nextg and to find out more information on the Regional Telecommunications Project, visit www.commerce.wa.gov.au/industry-and-innovation/regional-telecommunications -project
