Optus will build 114 mobile blackspot towers
Optus has successfully tendered for Federal Government money as part of the Mobile Blackspot scheme.
The Federal Government’s Mobile Blackspot scheme is designed to offer carriers funds to fill in the worst gaps in Australia’s regional mobile phone coverage. Previous tender rounds have been dominated by Telstra’s building efforts, although Vodafone has also been a minor partner in the regional rollout of new towers.
Now Optus is getting on on the Blackspot scheme, announcing that it has secured funding for 114 mobile towers as part of the second round of funding. Optus will get $26.4 million in government funding, as well as tipping $36.4 million of its own funding into building 114 new mobile sites.
In terms of regional breakdown, Queensland will see the most new Optus coverage with 27 planned sites, just ahead of 23 sites in Western Australia. New South Wales will see 18 new sites, while Victoria gets 18. Optus will build 15 sites in South Australia and 13 in the Northern Territory, and only 2 in Tasmania.
Optus has also signalled that it plans to expand its 1800MHz network coverage in the ACT, Queensland and NSW, having invested $196 million in regional spectrum licences. It already operates services in this spectrum in Bendigo, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Nowra, Vincentia and Toowoomba.
Latest mobile plans headlines
- Bitcoin and cryptocurrency round-up 18 June 2018
- Binance Coin price grows with extra voting power
- Optus to simulcast the World Cup on SBS for the next two days after streaming bungle
- Etihad Airways launches flights to Barcelona
- Bitcoin price weekly analysis 18 June: A quieter week as the market takes stock
Follow us for all the latest mobile phone news and deals
Image: Shutterstock
when will a optus tower come to Donnybrook 4510, blackspot area?
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your inquiry
As of today, Optus has not released specific dates about the construction of towers in QLD. Donnybrook 4510 is not yet covered according to their coverage map. To see which areas are covered, you may check their coverage map located on their website.
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold