Areas including Cradle Mountain and Railton will be offered access to 4G mobile coverage for the first time, following an announcement that $17.5 million will be poured into improving Optus mobile services across Tasmania.
Premier Will Hodgman joined Optus representatives to announce the funding on Thursday.
The funding will cover the construction of 35 mobile base stations at locations in Devonport, Launceston, Hobart and the east coast.
Optus acting vice president corporate and regulatory affairs Andrew Sheridan said he expected the sites would be up and running within 18 months.
“We have to go through various planning and approval processes [and] that work has started for these towers,” Mr Sheridan said.
“They’re all at various stages, we’re fairly confident we’ll be able to deliver those sites during that time period.”
Mr Hodgman said the Optus announcement would have flow-on effects for the small business economy.
“I think it’s a wonderful sign of confidence in Tasmania that optus are investing to this scale and continue to do so,” Mr Hodgman said.
“Greater connectivity improves the lives of Tasmanians, it improves their amenity but it also supports businesses that rely on greater connectivity and indeed, it also important for visitors who come to the state because more often than not they want to be connected with their homes and the people they love while they’re in our beautiful state.”
The funding announcement coincides with Strathgordon, in the state’s south west, becoming the first site switched on under the Federal Government’s mobile blackspot program.
Over the past 12 months Optus has invested $12 million to build 10 new sites and upgrade a further 36 sites with 4G technology.
Earlier this year, Optus invested $6 million in improving mobile coverage around Launceston.
Source: http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/4775222/optus-invest-in-improved-4g-mobile-coverage/