Optus expands Victorian mobile coverage with new tower plan
Co-funded deal with the Victorian Government will see 25 new mobile towers by the end of 2018.
Optus has announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Victorian Government for a $16 million deal that will see new mobile towers built across the state in an effort to expand regional mobile coverage. The investment is stated to be worth $16 million, with the majority of the funding coming from Optus itself.
The first site in Nanneella in Central Victoria is already up and running, with a further 24 sites to be built and running by the end of 2018. The Victorian Government worked in consultation with Optus to select sites that had previously not had mobile coverage in a deal that isn't part of the federal government's existing mobile blackspot coverage program.
In terms of locations, the new towers will be located at Leongatha South, Lower Norton, Maryknoll, Nanneella, Haddon North, Teesdale, Willow Grove, Monegeetta, Badger Creek, Brim, Pomonal, Tuerong, Tuerong West, Main Ridge West, Yackandandah North, Cape Clear, Port Campbell North, Edgecombe, Hawkesdale, Thorpdale, Wharparilla, Winslow, Woolsthorpe, Girgarre and Kennett River.
Optus is also building an additional 16 sites under the blackspot scheme in Victoria and is on track to build a total of 114 mobile blackspot towers across the nation.
Optus has committed to spending $1 billion on upgrades to its regional mobile network, and it has its own Purple Badge system for handsets it has tested for improved regional reception.
Regional mobile reception on Australia's carrier networks is very much back on the radar at the moment after the ACCC ruled against the idea of declaring for domestic roaming.
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