YANGAN AND EMU VALE RESIDENTS RECEIVE DEDICATED WIDE AREA MOBILE RECEPTION

Site to be co-funded by Optus, Queensland and Federal Governments with additional investment locked in for the Southern Downs and Western Queensland.

Optus has today announced the townships of Yangan and Emu Vale, east of Warwick in Queensland’s Southern Downs, will receive mobile reception following the switch-on of a new tower in the area, as part of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.

The site signals wide area mobile and data reception for Yangan and Emu Vale and forms part of a greater network investment program being undertaken by Optus with the Federal and State Government to deliver coverage in 21 locations across regional Queensland

Andrew Sheridan, Vice President, Regulatory and Public Affairs, Optus said, “Today’s tower switch on is great news for the residents of Yangan, Emu Vale and surrounding properties. We are pleased to be a part of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program and to be able to deliver crucial telecommunications infrastructure to regional and remote areas across Australia.”

The Optus facility is co-located on the existing NBN Co tower on Careys Road.

“Optus remains committed to co- and individual investment across a range of townships and locations in regional Australia that helps us provide coverage and reach in areas that we otherwise may not have been able to.”

“The Government’s lead in this crucial program combined with specific regional investment by Optus is certainly being met with a welcome response by rural and remote communities,” Mr Sheridan said.

Optus has invested $9.5 million to deliver 20 new mobile sites across Warwick, the Darling Downs and Toowoomba over the last 12 months. Over 120 new mobile phone towers have been switched on in regional Australia over the past two years.

“Optus is committed to delivering competition and choice for the bush,” said Mr Sheridan.

Separately, Optus has confirmed additional blackspot sites earmarked to come online soon in central Queensland, including three satellite small cells in the Carnarvon Gorge National Park.

Satellite cells provide a cost effective and flexible alternative to a traditional mobile tower, using satellite connectivity and backhaul to deliver mobile coverage to a concentrated local area

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Additional quotes

Federal Minister for Regional Communications, Senator the Hon Fiona Nash

Federal Minister for Regional Communications, Senator the Hon Fiona Nash said: “The Coalition understands the importance of mobile coverage for business, tourism, agriculture and keeping in touch with family and friends.

“The Mobile Black Spot Program will deliver better mobile coverage to people in rural, regional and remote Australia, and I’m delighted that Optus has been able to hit the ground running in its delivery of these improvements.

“When Government invests in regional communities, it gives those communities confidence.

“The best results are always achieved working in partnership and that’s what we’ve done – with state and territory governments, local councils, community organisations, local businesses and the major telcos,” said Minister Nash.

Media enquiries:
Steve Batten
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850/0411 080 268