The Queensland Government will invest $15 million to improve mobile coverage in Queensland.
Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch said the commitment in the 2016-17 State Budget would build on the State Government’s $10 million contribution to round one of the Commonwealth’s Mobile Black Spot Program.
“Today’s announcement will be welcome news to many Queenslanders including those in rural and remote areas who are living with the daily challenge of having poor mobile phone reception,” Ms Enoch said.
“Communities from Eulo in the state’s south west to Darnley Island in the Torres Strait benefited from funding in round one of the Mobile Black Spot Program and this new funding will ensure even more communities are connected,” she said.
“Securing funding for 68 mobile towers from Round 1 of the black spot program was a strong outcome, however, there are still many mobile black spot areas throughout Queensland that need to be addressed,” she said.
The Commonwealth has announced that a further $60 million has been committed for Round 2 of the mobile black spot program, with applications due from mobile network operators by 14 July 2016.
A map of locations in Queensland that received new or upgraded coverage under round 1 of the MBSP is available atqld.gov.au/mobilecoverage
