People living and travelling through the Limestone Coast will now have better phone service to make calls, browse the internet and stay connected with family and friends.
The new mobile base station being turned on today will significantly improve phone service on the Riddoch Highway between Millers Lane and Towers Road, South of Penola.
Federal Member for Barker said the switch on of the new mobile base station near Penola under the Mobile Black Spot Program reflects the Morrison Government’s commitment to further improving connectivity in the regions.
“This significant investment as part of the Mobile Black Spot Program means that people living, working and travelling in the Limestone Coast will now have better mobile coverage. This is especially important following last summer’s devastating bushfires,” Tony Pasin said.
“The new mobile base station was completed by Telstra and is the latest site in Barker to receive new or improved mobile coverage under the program.
“My constituents raised the issue of poor service me as I travel around this region and I’m pleased to be part of a Government that is listening and delivering. Our continued investment in mobile phone base stations is further proof of the Coalition’s commitment to connecting Australians, wherever they are, particularly in regional towns like Penola”.
The first five rounds of the Mobile Black Spot Program are funding more than 1,200 mobile base stations around Australia, with more than 880 of these already on air and providing much needed mobile connectivity to rural and regional areas.
Minister for Regional Communications, Regional Health and Local Government, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, said the Coalition Government is committed to improving connectivity for people living in regional and rural areas.
“The improved service is thanks to the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program, which is eradicating phone black spots across Barker,” Minister Coulton said.
“This Government knows how frustrating it is to be talking on the phone or browsing the internet and then lose service, so we’re getting on with the job of building more phone towers to deliver better service.
“Not only will these towers make it easier for people to stay connected to family and friends, it will also make it easier to do business and access education.”
Minister Coulton said more than 40,000 Triple 0 calls have so far been made possible through the Mobile Black Spot Program.
More information about the program is available at www.communications.gov.au/mbsp.
Media Contact: Vanessa Juergens 08 8531 2466
