Optus has successfully secured funding to build 83 new mobile sites as part of Round 5 of the Federal Governments Mobile Black Spot Program, delivering much needed mobile coverage and connectivity to regional communities.

The 83 sites are located across New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory and will cost $56.1 million to build, including $25.4 million in Federal funding, $5.3 million in State funding and a co-contribution of $22.2 million from Optus.

Andrew Sheridan, Optus Vice President Regulatory and Public Affairs said, “We are incredibly pleased to be able to bring expanded coverage to remote locations through this round of Mobile Black Spot funding, where Optus has been awarded a diverse range of sites.

“In the four years Optus has taken part in the Program, we have delivered more than 95 sites benefiting more than 17,000 properties in regional and rural parts of Australia, unlocking access to mobile voice, text and data services.”

According to Mr Sheridan, the sites have carried over 10 million calls and over 1.3 million individual users have taken advantage of this new coverage in some of the most remote parts of Australia, including Innamincka in South Australia and Kalumburu in Western Australia.

“Our priority at Optus is always to deliver the best service, value and choice to our customers and the Mobile Black Spot Program has played an important role in helping to facilitate this in often very remote parts of the country.”

“We acknowledge the important contribution of the Federal and State Governments in funding this additional network infrastructure and coverage,” Mr Sheridan added.

The 83 sites secured by Optus will improve coverage in regions and locations including Rubyvale in Queensland, popular National Parks within the Northern Territory, Peebinga in South Australia, the Wheat Belt in Western Australia and the Illawarra train line in New South Wales.

“These are all areas in need of improved mobile coverage, especially at this crucial time when many families are in isolation and need to stay connected for education, business and personal reasons. We have worked closely with State and Territory Governments as well as some communities in selecting these sites. For us, this is about more than mobile coverage. It’s about giving Australians in rural areas the dedicated coverage that they need, to stay connected with their family and friends, and to deliver for their business,” added Mr Sheridan.

Optus is currently rolling out over 170 Federal funded sites across Australia as part of the second round of the Program, Priority Round program and fourth round of the projects. Over 95 Optus co-funded Black Spot sites are already live, providing much needed coverage to communities in those areas.

Round 5 Site List

 

ACT: 2 Sites
CORIN FOREST MOUNTAIN RESORT	TIDBINBILLA NATURE RESERVE

 

NSW:  10 Sites
COTTAGE POINT	JINGELIC	LAGUNA	LAKESLAND	LANKEYS CREEK
PUTTY	ROSEWOOD	WATERFALL - HELENSBURGH RAILWAY	WEROMBI	WOMBEYAN CAVES

 

NT: 8 Sites
12 MILE CAMPGROUND	CAHILLS CROSSING	GUNN POINT	KEEP RIVER NP 1	KEEP RIVER NP 2
REDBANK GORGE	SANDY CREEK	TJUWALIYN HOT SPRINGS

 

QLD: 7 Sites
AUBIGNY	COOYAR (NEW ENGLAND HWY)	KINGAROY VENUE	KOBBLE CREEK	MEMERAMBI
RUBYVALE	SOUTHBROOK (GORE HWY)

 

SA: 10 Sites
AVENUE RANGE	KEILIRA	KUITPO	LEGGES LANE	LEIGH CREEK COPLEY
LEIGH CREEK TOWN	LYNDHURST	PARUNA	PEEBINGA	WELLINGTON

 

TAS: 6 Sites
COLEBROOK	COMPANION HILL RT	JUDBURY SOUTH	MATHINNA	MYRTLE BANK
PYENGANA

 

VIC: 4 Sites
HORDERN VALE	MT BRUNO	NELSON	TUTYE

 

WA: 36 Sites
ASHENDON SOUTH	BADGINGARRA EAST	BOWELLING	BUREKUP EAST	CADOUX
CAPE ARID NATIONAL PARK - RANGER STATION	CHEELA PLAINS STATION STAY	CUNDERDIN NORTH	DALE RIVER	DONGOLOCKING NORTH
EAST NEWDEGATE	ELLENDALE SOUTH	FRANCOIS PERON NATIONAL PARK - BIG LAGOON	GHOOLI	HILL RIVER SOUTH
KOOMBERKINE NORTH	KUNAWARRITJI	LAKE TOWERRINNING	LESLEY EAST	MEEKING
MIAMOON	MOLLERIN	MT HORNER NORTH	MUMBIDA	NINGALOO STATION CAMPGROUND
NORTH KELLERBERRIN	SILENT GROVE CAMPGROUND	STEEP POINT	STOKES NATIONAL PARK - CAMPING AREA	STRATHERNE
WAMENUSKING	WARRALONG	WINDJANA GORGE CAMPGROUND	WURAMING NORTH	YATHROO
YOUNDGEIN

 

 

Media queries:

Optus Corporate Affairs
P: (02) 8082 7850
E: media@optus.com.au