A new mobile phone tower at Drake will help improve coverage in the Tenterfield Shire according Lismore MP Thomas George.
Mr George said the Drake tower was part of work across New South Wales aimed at eliminating mobile phone blackspots.
He said users will benefit from improved mobile phone coverage as the government delivers on its election commitment to fix some of the worst mobile phone blackspots across the state.
“This initiative will help locals stay connected, improve local emergency services and make it easier to do business,” Mr George said.
“As part of the three-year rollout, residents and businesses will benefit from a share of the 144 new or upgraded mobile base stations as part of the program.
“To start, the NSW government will deliver two towers at Clunes and Drake contributing to more than 14,000 square kilometres of new coverage in NSW.
“A build schedule with further details on the rollout will be released every six months until the program is complete.”
Minister for Regional Development John Barilaro said the NSW Government has contributed more than $24 million to improving mobile coverage in the regions as part of the $92 million total investment.
“The NSW Government has worked closely with the Commonwealth and mobile phone carriers to maximise the funding and subsequently the benefits of this program for regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Whether it’s new highways, hospitals, education facilities and now mobile phone towers, we are providing the infrastructure that regional NSW needs to grow.”
Further information about the rollout of the Mobile Phone Blackspots Program is available at www.communications.gov.au/mobile_coverage and www.industry.nsw.gov.au/mobileblackspots.
