Vodafone’s Regional Coverage Is About To Get A Whole Lot Better

There was a time when regional phone users had a choice between Telstra or Telstra. These days, all but the remotest areas are covered by most major telcos — which is just as well, given recent developments. Vodafone has just upped the ante with a $9 million investment in 32 new mobile base stations across its regional mobile network. Here are the states and suburbs that are set to benefit.

Regional Australia image via Shutterstock

Vodafone has announced a significant expansion to its regional mobile network that will see 32 new mobile base stations installed around New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia. The majority of new sites will be operational by the end of the year, with the rest switched on by the end of 2017.

“Vodafone is committed to increasing coverage and choice for customers in regional Australia, and we’ve identified 32 sites which will build on our growth in areas outside the major metropolitan centres,” Vodafone Chief Technology Officer Benoit Hanssen said in a statement.

Hanssen also made a sly dig at modern politics, noting the importance of reliable and affordable 21st century telecommunications services in regional Australia, something our current government needs “reminding” of.

“It’s crucial that whichever party wins the election ensures the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the current Universal Service Obligation (USO) arrangements leads to meaningful change which benefits customers,” he said.

“We think the $300 million in funding provided to Telstra every year to maintain an outdated copper network and payphones in regional areas could be much better spent.”

The locations for the 32 new mobile base stations are as follows:

    New South Wales:

  • Coffs Harbour Park Beach
  • Coffs Harbour CBD
  • Coffs Harbour West
  • Toormina
  • Coffs Harbour Industrial
  • Coffs Harbour Jetty
  • Tamworth showgrounds
  • South Tamworth
  • West Tamworth
  • Taminda
  • Tamworth Golden Guitar
  • Coffs Harbour North
  • Berrigan
  • Yeoval
  • Cudal
  • Tallimba North
  • Rushes Creek
  • Bendemeer
  • Kootingal

Queensland

  • Bundaberg East
  • Bundaberg North
  • Svensson Heights
  • Bargara
  • Elliots Heads
  • Burnett
  • Heads
  • Drillham

Western Australia

  • Carrabin
  • Burracoppin

Tasmania

  • Myrtle Bank
  • Scottsdale
  • Campania
  • Ouse

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