149/04
September 2004

New contract to improve regional and remote mobile coverage

More than 30,000 people in 62 towns in regional and remote Australia will soon benefit from new or improved mobile phone coverage as the result of $15.6 million Australian Government funding announced today.

"I'm pleased to announce that Telstra has been selected as the successful tenderer for this project," Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan said.

"The project will see approximately 30,000 square kilometres added to the total area currently covered by CDMA mobile phone services.

"Regional highway users travelling near these towns will also benefit from the extended CDMA coverage provided by the new infrastructure.

"The locations that will benefit the most are some of the remotest communities in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

"This enhancement is further evidence of the Australian Government's commitment to providing equitable access to telecommunications services for all Australians regardless of where they live or work.

"It's estimated that the CDMA network currently provides services to more than 98 per cent of the Australian population and covers more than 18 per cent of the Australian landmass."

Rollout of the new coverage will commence shortly and is due to be completed by November 2006.

Telstra will be required to maintain the services from these locations for at least 10 years and the Australian Communications Authority will monitor Telstra's service provision throughout this period.

Media Contact:  Jane McMillan   0438 690 305

www.minister.dcita.gov.au

New CDMA locations by state

Location map available on request.