$3.5m for Cape 5G service upgrades

5G SERVICE coverage is locked in for residents in Cooktown, Lockhart River, and Seisia thanks to grants from the Federal Government’s Regional Connectivity Program.

Due to announce the combined $3.5m in telecommunications infrastructure upgrades in Cooktown this morning, Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said locals would be better connected as a result of the projects.

Mr Entsch said he had worked closely with Telstra, and residents would soon be connected to 5G voice, mobile and data services.

“This is a welcome investment in our region and particularly for the three respective Cape York communities,” Mr Entsch said.

“We all know and have heard about the telecommunications dramas in Lockhart River and this upgrade should make them a thing of the past.”

The Lockhart River project will spend $1.68m upgrading the Telstra macro cell base station and transmission infrastructure, and will involve two microwave “hops” from the fibre at Batavia Downs to the Lockhart River, providing improved and enhanced handheld coverage to an approximate 186sq km area.

Seisia will receive $1.1m to deliver a new Telstra macro cell base station to provide new coverage in the Seisia, New Mapoon and surrounding region, which Mr Entsch said would improve voice mobile coverage, wireless broadband, and internet of Things network capability for local residents.

Another $772,400 will deliver improved handheld coverage to an area of approximately 245sq km around Cooktown and provide new 4G coverage to the west of the town, including the including main thoroughfares of Railway Ave and Endeavour Valley Road and the Cooktown airport.