Michael Ferguson,Minister for Science and Technology
We welcome today's announcement by the Australian Government that 11 regional areas across Tasmania will benefit from new and expanded telecommunications services.
The Mobile Black Spot Program is designed to improve telecommunications in remote and regional areas, with the Federal Government contributing $34 million to Round 5, backed by further private investment from telecommunications providers.
Through the latest round of the program, the Tasmanian locations to receive new or ungraded networks include:
- Blessington (Telstra)
- Colebrook (Optus)
- Companion Hill (Optus)
- Fortescue Bay (Telstra)
- Granville Harbour (Telstra)
- Judbury South (Optus)
- Mathinna (Optus)
- Myrtle Bank (Optus)
- Pioneer (Telstra)
- Pyengana (Optus)
- Trial Harbour (Telstra)
The Tasmanian Government continues to support and invest in vital telecommunications infrastructure for the state, and working cooperatively and constructively with our Federal colleagues has helped unlock this investment.
These new and upgraded services will provide vital support to Tasmania's regional and tourism hotspots, which will be particularly important in the months to come as the current COVID-19 crisis abates and the industry reboots. It will also keep our regions more connected and provide additional protection from natural disasters, such as bushfires.
This announcement is in addition to the Tasmanian Liberal Government's $3.4 million investment to expand mobile coverage on the Great Eastern Drive, between Binalong Bay and Buckland.
