ANGER OVER PHONE FAILS
A PETITION signed by more than 400 residents is calling for greater mobile phone service in the rapidly growing areas of Armstrong Creek, Warralily and Mt Duneed.
The push for greater and more reliable coverage is being led by Corangamite MP Libby Coker who claimed services were “absolutely failing” residents.
Last week Ms Coker and Opposition communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland hosted a virtual meeting joined by more than 80 Armstrong Creek residents.
“I felt like I was opening a hornet’s nest as story after story came out about mobile phone failures,” she said.
It is understood as a result of the pandemic more residents are working from home or completing at-home learning with unreliable mobile connectivity across these suburbs.
The petition was met with a strong response by residents demanding urgent action.
“One woman shared her emotional story where her husband had collapsed and hearing the instructions over the phone from a triple-0 paramedic while waiting for the ambulance was impossible,” Ms Coker said. “The woman, a neighbour and a brickie, who had been working across the road, all tried unsuccessfully to get usable coverage on their phones.
“It’s telling that they were all on different mobile networks, so all three failed their customers. Thankfully the husband did get to hospital and is now fine.”
As a result of the growing outrage, Ms Coker said she would raise individual concerns with management at the three big mobile carriers, while bringing up the broader issue in parliament.
“The telcos are not keeping up with the population and housing growth in the area and the resulting demand for mobile services,” she said.
“Not only do we need to find solutions to the Armstrong Creek issues, we must ensure that ‘mobile phone catch up’ doesn’t become an issue for other urban growth areas. Better forward planning is crucial,” she said.
A federal government spokeswoman said a predictive map published by the telcos indicated these areas should be receiving 3G and 4G mobile coverage, as well as 5G services through Telstra. The service is expected to be available through Optus and TPG soon.
“The Morrison Government understands the increasing importance of access to mobile communications and is actively encouraging and supporting the telecommunications providers to increase their network size and coverage,” she said.
The government is investing $380m through the Mobile Black Spot program, with 22 projects to be funded in Corangamite.