Telstra’s $160 million investment in Victorian mobile network

Telstra will invest more than $160 million on 600 mobile network projects across Victoria this financial year, to help eliminate mobile black spots, improve data speeds and capacity.

More than half of this investment is in regional areas, with $11 million for 26 mobile network projects in the Bendigo region alone, including upgrades in areas such as Kangaroo Flat, Epsom and Eaglehawk.

In Ballarat today, Telstra Chief Executive Officer Andy Penn announced Telstra is to invest more than $20 million to complete 74 mobile network projects in and around Ballarat and South West and Western Victoria^.

“This investment will mean new mobile base station developments at Delacombe adding new mobile coverage, and upgrades at Sebastopol, Wendouree, Canadian, Alfredton and Redan that will mean increased capacity delivering faster and more reliable data speeds for customers using our network,” Mr Penn said.

“Further south, this investment is also boosting our mobile network capacity in regional holiday hotspots on the coast in areas such as Ocean Grove and Torquay, as well as delivering improved coverage in Anglesea.

“As people are increasingly using mobile-connected devices for business and personal use, it’s more important than ever we bring the best possible network experience we can to regional areas.”

In Victoria alone, Telstra has now constructed 128 mobile base stations through the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program, with 22 more to be finished in the coming months.

“The Mobile Black Spot Program demonstrates what can happen when business co-invests with communities and governments to expand coverage areas where it may otherwise be uneconomical,” Mr Penn said.

“The program has meant local communities like Blackwood, Leonards Hill, Dereel and Bullarto are all benefitting from coverage where previously there was none.

“Nationally we have constructed more than 530 of over 650 mobile base stations committed.”

Additionally, through the installation of mobile repeaters on V/Line trains travelling between Melbourne and Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Gippsland (Traralgon), Telstra customers are expected to have coverage along 99 per cent of these routes.

“As these regional Victorian cities continue to grow, the importance of reliable connectivity can’t be understated as more people make use of their time to stay connected, while commuting on the train,” Mr Penn said.

Telstra’s mobile network is supported by more than 2300 mobile base stations in Victoria alone, covering 99.9 per cent of the Victorian population. In August last year, Telstra announced it had started switching on 5G technology, making Australia’s largest and fastest* mobile network the first in the country to be 5G ready.

“We now have more than 200 5G-enabled sites in all major cities and some regional centres across the country – the first provider to do so,” Mr Penn said.

“Over the coming months Telstra will continue expanding its 5G coverage with plans to roll out the technology and grow coverage to more cities, regional centres and high traffic areas.”

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^Spend refers to the federal electorates of Ballarat, Corangamite, Wannon and Mallee. **All references to Australia’s fastest network are based on national average combined 3G/4G mobile speeds.

Media release no. 009/2019              Media contact: Michelle Zydower, 0423 028 564 media@team.telstra.com