Funding Boost to Improve Mobile Coverage in Regional Queensland

Regional Queensland will receive a major boost in mobile coverage with 68 new or upgraded towers built in locations ranging from Eulo in the state’s south-west to Darnley Island in the Torres Strait under a joint Commonwealth-State Government funding arrangement.

Science and Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch said the announcement was the most significant one time increase in mobile network coverage to outer metropolitan, regional and remote Australia delivered by a single public funding programme in the history of mobile communications in Australia.

“Today’s announcement is a great outcome for Queensland, particularly those living in regional and remote areas,” she said.

“Having adequate mobile coverage is critical for people living outside major cities. By helping expand coverage we can see clear benefits for public safety, business, education, tourism, and much more.”

Ms Enoch said the Queensland Government had invested $10 million in the Mobile Black Spot Programme, and as a result had been able to leverage a total package of $53.85 million for the state.

The Commonwealth Government contributed a total of $100 million to fix mobile black spots nationally. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher said the outcome of the Mobile Black Spot Programme had significantly exceeded expectations.

'It is pleasing that the Queensland Government has worked closely with the Commonwealth Government to maximise the amount of funding available – and in turn maximise the impact of this Programme to provide new and improved mobile coverage in areas which need it,' Mr Fletcher said.

In addition to the Commonwealth and Queensland Government funding commitments, the Programme has leveraged significant private sector investment from the mobile network operators.

Minister Enoch said the Programme will improve mobile coverage along major transport routes in Queensland, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems.

“For example, it was a great concern to myself and the Premier earlier this year when Cyclone Marcia struck that some residents couldn’t receive evacuation alerts or communicate properly with each other and the authorities. This programme will help address those issues,” she said.

The successful locations were chosen following a competitive selection process, with the mobile network operators asked to nominate sites where they would build new or upgraded base stations to serve the black spot locations nominated by the public.

The Commonwealth Government selected the locations in accordance with the ranking process set out in the Programme guidelines issued publicly in December 2014.

The Commonwealth Government undertook an extensive public consultation process to determine black spot locations around Australia, with over 6,000 locations included in a national database which was shared with mobile network operators under the competitive selection process.

Base stations to be funded under the Programme will roll out over a three year period.

A map of locations in Queensland which will receive new or upgraded coverage under the first round of funding under the Mobile Black Spot Programme is available at www.communications.gov.au/mobile_coverage or www.qld.gov.au/mobilecoverage

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Media Contact: Tim Shipstone – 3719 7281, 0419 246 157