OPTUS SWITCHES ON NEW MOBILE BLACK SPOT SITE IN NAPOLEON REEF

Optus has switched on a new mobile site in Napoleon Reef providing improved coverage to the town as part of the Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.

The new Optus site, which was jointly funded by Optus along with the NSW Government and Federal Government as part of Round 2 of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, will offer residents of the village with dedicated and more reliable mobile coverage for the first time. The tower will also offer enhanced coverage along the Great Western Highway between Yetholme and Raglan.

“Being able to bring mobile coverage to small rural communities like Napoleon Reef is incredibly important to us. We want every Australian to have access to reliable mobile coverage and programs like the Federal Governments Mobile Black Spot Program are crucial enablers of this goal,” said Andrew Sheridan, Vice President Government Regulatory and Government Affairs.

“As the main artery linking Sydney with Bathurst it’s important that we offer commuters and holidaymakers driving along the Great Western Highway with reliable mobile reception. Critically, this new site in Napoleon Reef, will help enhance in-vehicle coverage along the highway which is vital for the thousands of people who travel along this stretch of road each day,” added Mr Sheridan.

The new facility provides coverage for calls, text and data services across Optus’ 4G and 3G network.

“From coastal communities to some of the most remote indigenous communities and towns, our mobile black spot sites have generated over 130,000 hours of calls, carried over 2.1 million calls and served over 400,000 individual users. The positive feedback we continue to receive from communities in these areas is the driving force behind our commitment to this program and we will continue to work closely with the Federal and State Governments to deliver more sites across Australia,” added Mr Sheridan.

Minister for Regional Services, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, said the Mobile Black Spot Program is delivering much needed new investment in mobile infrastructure across regional Australia to address mobile coverage issues.
“It’s fantastic to see that the program is reaching more and more communities across the country, like Napolean Reef.

“The Mobile Black Spot Program is enabling mobile carriers to service areas like Napolean Reef where it would otherwise not have been economically viable,” said Minister McKenzie.

ABOUT THE MOBILE BLACK SPOT PROGRAM

The Mobile Black Spot Program is a Federal Government initiative to improve and extend mobile phone coverage in regional and remote Australia.

The Federal Government has committed $220 million to this Program, which has been co-invested by State Governments, local governments, businesses, community organisations and telecommunications providers.

As part of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Programs Optus will be co-funding and building a total of 126 mobile sites in black spots across the country, a large number of which are in very remote, parts of Australia. A total of 65 of these sites are now live with many under or about to start build.

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Media contact:
Optus Corporate Affairs
(02) 8082 7850
media@optus.com.au