Resident in regional areas around Toowoomba are now set to get Telstra's 4G mobile network which in many cases offers speeds quicker than National Broadband Network.
In November last year the speeds offered by the NBN were drawn into the national spotlight as an investigation Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found the government sponsored project had failed to live up to its promises.
A report by the ACCC found more than half of the customers who were promised the fibre-optic network would deliver speeds of 100mbps were in fact getting 50Mbps.
And 45 per cent of those promised 50Mbps were not getting the speeds they paid for.
As Telstra had sold the contracts for the NBN it was forced to compensate 42,000 customers.
In contrast Telstra's 4G network which the provider's coverage maps state covers most of Toowoomba, Gatton, Oakey, Laidley, Pittsworth and Millmerran, offers maximum speeds of 75Mbps.
And today Telstra has announced it will further expand its network into remote areas announcing $17 million will be spent this financial year on 46 projects delivering new or improved mobile coverage for communities in the Darling Downs and Western Queensland.
Telstra area general manager Darren Clark said the upgrades and coverage expansion would benefit regional centres such as Toowoomba as well as remote Darling Downs and Western Queensland communities.
"We know mobile coverage is a key priority for people and businesses in regional and rural areas," he said.
"This investment includes 12 new projects to upgrade our mobile network in the Toowoomba region and other locations such as Wyaga as well as the installation of Small Cell technology in 11 locations including Muttaburra.
"Telstra has a long history of investing in regional Australia, and over the last three years has invested $2.2 billion in its regional mobile network so more Australians can experience a connected world that supports their way of life.
"We continually see the benefit mobile coverage brings to farmers, shop owners, doctors and schools in Australia's remote areas.
"From supporting sales workforces in the field to small art galleries being able to take credit card payments for the first time, mobile connectivity is becoming more and more vital to small business growth and stability.
"Access to mobile coverage on the road can be just as important as being connected at home or the office. It's good for business, safety and even simple pleasures like streaming your favourite song while on a long drive.
"This network investment is also helping extend our Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, with our Cat M1 IoT coverage now reaching around 3 million square kilometers, connecting devices and apps to new and innovative technology.
"This includes a range of things from agriculture apps accessing IoT sensors that let farmers measure the soil moisture of avocado trees to IoT sensor based tracking of plant and equipment parcels in the field and in transit.
"We will continue to expand our network across the country so that all Australians can have access to the latest technology and stay connected to the things they love."
Source: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/17-million-mobile-upgrades-be-announced-today/3358278/