TELSTRA’S $39M MOBILE NETWORK UPGRADE ACROSS THE FAR NORTH:
A MOBILE base station to be installed along the Cairns Esplanade will be part of $39 million worth of upgrades to Telstra’s network across northern Queensland.
Telstra has announced it aims to complete more than 100 projects by mid-2018 to improve telecommunications throughout the region this financial year.
This includes 38 new projects to upgrade the mobile network in Cairns and Townsville, as well as smaller communities such as Chillagoe, Karumba and Minnamoolka near Mt Surprise.
The telco will also install small cell technology at 34 new locations including Cairns, Townsville, Kennedy and Brandon.
Small cell technology brings high-speed 4G mobile broadband services to a limited area.
Telstra area general manager Rachel Cliffe said yesterday a new base station would be built along the Esplanade, and there would be “upgrades” to the company’s infrastructure at Cairns Airport and other locations.
“Sometimes it’s an upgrade from 3G to include 4G, or from 4G to include 4GX,” she said.
“So, in the example of Karumba, we’re upgrading to provide 4G coverage in the Karumba area.
“But we’re also upgrading and installing new small cells, so that’s where you might have a small area where you don’t have mobile coverage.
“We’re installing 34 mobile small cells across the region, which will fill in those coverage areas for customers that might just be in those little black spot areas.”
She said all the 100 projects would be completed by midyear.
Telstra copped criticism in October from residents of Chillagoe, about 95km west of Mareeba, after the small township experienced two major mobile phone outages within a month.
Ms Cliffe said the upgrades were in response to customer demand and areas of low coverage.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the council was very pleased with Telstra’s announcement of upgrades across the region.
“Anything that gives us better service, especially outside of the cities of Cairns and Townsville ... certainly more remote areas where people don’t get coverage, or very limited coverage – is a great thing,” he said.