Telstra has today been announced as the winner of a contract by the Western Australian Government to increase mobile coverage in rural Western Australia by 22 per cent over 3 years.
Telstra to revamp Mobile Plus plans? (Credit: diongillard/Flickr)
Telstra confirmed it has won the $39.2 million contract to build out the Regional Mobile Communication Project (RMCP), with Telstra expected to deliver a total return of approximately $106 million through direct expenditure and access rights to the company’s infrastructure.
As part of the deal, 113 new mobile sites will be rolled out across the region, with the construction of the first sites now underway. The last site expected to be completed in 3 years.
Telstra Regional Sales and Service Director Central West, Richard Fink, said in a statement today that ”Western Australians in regional communities throughout the state will benefit from improved coverage in more areas thanks to this initiative.
“This expansion of the Telstra mobile network will provide the communications backbone for the economic and social development of Western Australia for years to come.”
The project will see an increase in geographic coverage of more than 22 per cent – up from the current 430,000 square kilometres to more than 525,000 when completed.
“Keeping people connected is a vision both Telstra and the State Government share and Telstra looks forward to providing a network that will benefit not just individuals but also business, government, indigenous communities and emergency services in WA,” Fink said.
Tenders for the project were opened in March last year, with Western Australia’s Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls and Science and Innovation Minister John Day jointly announcing the Regions-funded Regional Mobile Communications Project (RMCP).
“The shortcomings of mobile telephone coverage on the State’s major regional highways need to be improved not only for mobile telephone but also for radio communications coverage, which is essential for our police and emergency services, business and recreational purposes,” Grylls said.
“This regional communications project represents a significant investment by the State Government to ensure everyone in Western Australia benefits from improved telecommunications,” Day added.
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