Towers to fill in mobile coverage
Recent investment into phone towers in the Mid West has improved mobile coverage and access to broadband on the highways to the north and south of Geraldton.
Responding to highway “blackspots” and in an attempt to give mobile continuous coverage on WA’s major highways, the State Government and Telstra have recently activated 43 of 113 towers as part of the $106 million Regional Mobile Communications Project.
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said reliable telecommunications were essential to the safety of regional road users, and improved the efficient delivery of community services including police and emergency response.
“The community feedback to the roll-out of RMCP has been overwhelming. Every day benefits are being realised across the entire State,” he said.
“In one instance, a member of the community driving on a Kimberley road that previously had no mobile coverage noticed a road train on fire and was able to contact the emergency services, ensuring the safety of the driver and saving two of the three trailers from being destroyed.”
Full story in today's print edition.
