Vodafone
Vodafone has today announced that they have won funding from the Australian Federal Government to build 70 base stations in regional areas under the Mobile Black Spot Programme.

A recent report released by The Centre for Independent Economics revealed Telstra customers in regional Australia paid a premium of up to $650 per year due to lack of competition. According to Vodafone, this funding will increase competition in those areas as well as provide improved mobile coverage.

Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs Dan Lloyd said

We’ve invested $3 billion in our new mobile network in the last three years. This federal funding will allow us to extend our network into more parts of Australia, offering a high-quality and reliable service to customers in regional areas which currently do not have coverage or choice.

The base stations will be built in New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, with sites being targeted at :

New South Wales: Attunga, Barraba, Billimaria, Bruxner Highway (two sites), Cargo, Castlereagh Highway at Ben Bullen, Culmaran Creek, Cultowa, Cumnock, Duri, Elsmore, Eugowra, Fossickers Way, Gooloogong, Hallsville, Invergowrie, Jemalong, Koorawatha, Manildra, Manilla, Manna Mountain, Mid Western Highway (two sites), Molong, Moonbi, Mount Carrington, Newell Highway (Pilliga rest area), Noonbinna, Oakdene, Oxley Vale, Piallamore, Piora, Riverina Highway, Savernake, Spring Mountain Road, Tabbita, Tamworth, Ungarie, Walcha, Weethalle, Westdale and Woodstock. (Total – 43)

Tasmania: Apslawn, Bicheno, Bothwell, Brandum, Buckland, Goshen, Hamilton, Highland Lakes Road between Steppes and Bothwell, Lyell Highway, Miena, Okehampton Beach, Pyengana, Swansea, Takone, Tarraleah, Tasman Highway at Little Swanport and Verona Sands. (Total – 17)

Queensland: Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Camooweal, Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Cloncurry, Boyneside, Capricorn Highway, Cooyar, Dingo and Kumbia.
(Total – 7)

Western Australia: Great Eastern Highway between Bodallin and Moorine Rock, and Ocean Beach. (Total – 2)

Victoria: Glen Valley (Total – 1)

WIth regards to the time-frame for bringing these sites online, Mr Lloyd went on to say ‘We are looking forward to being a part of these communities. We will be moving forward to bring these sites into operation as soon as possible’.

If you live in these areas, you can look forward to a wider range of services available, we hope to hear more from Vodafone when these sites are live.

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    Deeeshow

    wooshka telstra just announced 429 new base stations, as much as they cost they aint Telstra customers aint gonna give up there regional superiority.

    Dave

    Can’t wait for ben Bullen to come live I have to use telstra it will be nice to have a choice of carrier’s

    geoff

    Can’t help wondering why only 1 place in Victoria is being targeted.

    Pumpino

    I laughed at that too. Yeah, a real breakthrough into rural areas, Vodafone. Even 70 sites in Victoria alone wouldn’t come close to competing with Telstra or Optus in regional areas.