The Allan Labor Government is improving connectivity for Victorians, with more than 850 mobile and broadband projects now completed across the state.
Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins announced more than two thirds of projects delivered through the Connecting Victoria program have been completed.
The program is delivering deliver 1,300 mobile and broadband projects, with more than 900 of these in regional Victoria.
Over the last three months, more than 50 projects have been completed in regional Victoria, including 14 in Greater Bendigo, 13 in Greater Geelong, and 9 in Ballarat.
This includes an upgrade of a communications tower to 5G capability on the summit of the extinct volcano Mount Blackwood, located east of Ballarat in Moorabool Shire.
The upgraded tower, operated by carrier TPG, is one of many Connecting Victoria projects completed in the shire, including 15 upgrades to existing mobile infrastructure, 3 new mobile infrastructure builds, and 2 new mobile resilience projects. And up to 12 more Connecting Victoria mobile projects are planned for the shire.
Another recent milestone is the completion of 100 new mobile tower projects. These projects consist of brand-new mobile towers, as well as tower upgrades for 5G use and for additional telecommunications providers.
Two hundred mobile resilience projects have also been completed. These involve the installation of battery back-ups to make towers more resilient during natural disasters.
While the Commonwealth is responsible for telecommunications services in Australia, the Connecting Victoria program continues to invest in mobile and internet infrastructure to address connectivity gaps in regional communities.
Reliable mobile and internet coverage is essential for communities to access emergency services and check on family during emergencies.
As stated by Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins
"Connecting Victoria is all about making our state the best connected in Australia - and this latest milestone shows we are well on the way to achieving that goal."
"More than two million Victorian homes and businesses will benefit from Connecting Victoria's projects - helping Victorians to stay connected with family, work and study."
As stated by Member for Eureka Michaela Settle
"This is a big win for people in Ballarat and around Mount Blackwood with greater coverage and connectivity, meaning more people can get on and do what they need to with a modern service."
