May 22, 2017
Kumbia will get better mobile phone coverage when a 4G small cell is installed there this week, Minister for Science Leeanne Enoch has announced.
Ms Enoch said that 39 small cells are among up to 50 secured through the Queensland Government’s co-funding arrangement with Telstra for round one of the Mobile Black Spot Program.
“Mobile phone black spots have been a huge concern for many regional communities, with poor coverage presenting serious safety concerns,” Ms Enoch said.
“From farm and road accidents to natural disasters, bushfires and floods, it is critical we stay connected.
“Local businesses are also hurting.”
Ms Enoch said the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation (DSITI) had worked closely with local councils and Telstra to identify, expand and improve mobile phone coverage.
A small cell is a miniature version of a standard mobile base station.
Each small cell will provide 4G mobile connectivity over a coverage footprint of approximately 200 to 300 metres. It will also allow voice calls up to 15km away.
The 4G small cells will deliver coverage to hundreds more premises, and are in addition to 144 mobile base stations secured under the state’s $24 million co-investment in the Australian Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program,
The mobile base stations secured under MBSP will provide coverage to more than 20,000 premises, including houses, businesses, schools and government offices.
Telstra Area General Manager May Boisen said the small cells will open digital doors in mobile black spots.
“As the carrier with the nation’s largest mobile footprint and the first to bring 4G mobile services to regional Australia, we know how important high-speed mobile is to local communities and businesses,” Ms Boisen said
“In many of the town centres you currently can’t even make a voice call, so the recent enablement of Voice over LTE on our small cells is also an exciting addition.
“Customers with compatible handsets and devices will not only be able to make calls in the region for the first time, they’ll be clearer and connected faster, all while continuing to use fast mobile internet.”
More information and a map of all 4G small cell and mobile base station locations is available online.
The other 38 new small cell locations are Weengallon, Wallumbilla, Homestead, Thargomindah, Ridgewood, Cannon Valley, Nobby, Buxton, Delta, Brookstead, South Kolan, Inkermin, Flagstone Creek, Burnett Heads, Woodstock, Forest Hill, Rosedale, Brandon, Acland, Bororen, Forrest Beach, Bowenville, Comet, Kennedy, Surat, Ridgelands, El Arish, Brigalow, Tanby, Babinda, Peachester, Capella, Mount Alford, Conondale, Yakapari, Kerry, Pentland, and Cungulla.
