EXTENDING BATTERY BACK-UP FOR REGIONAL AND REMOTE PHONE TOWERS

Mobile phone towers across the region will be able to keep operating longer if the power goes out during or after natural disasters, thanks to a major new investment by the Australian Government.

Federal member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie welcomed the funding and said these upgrades were identified as a critical to strengthening our telecommunications following the bushfires that swept through the region 12 months ago.

The Government is funding Telstra and Optus to extend the battery back up at 9 mobile phone towers, to provide a minimum of 12 hours of back-up power.

“It is imperative that as we move more towards mobile telecommunications, our mobile phone towers infrastructure needs to be more reliable and resilient,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Telecommunications - including mobile phone towers - rely on power to operate. This investment will allow mobile phone towers to keep operating for at least 12 hours after the power goes out, making a real difference for our towns and villages during and after a natural disaster.” 

This includes tower upgrades;

MidCoast - Elands, Wherrol Flat, Firefly, Girvan and Mt Douglas

Hastings – Comboyne and Byabarra

Lower Hunter – Paterson

The Program is part of the $37.1m Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural  Disasters (STAND) package.

The Government is providing a total of $13.2 million to Telstra, Optus and TPG to extend the battery back up at 467 mobile phone towers across Australia, under stage one of the program.