Gormandale residents are today celebrating new and improved mobile coverage courtesy of a recently installed Telstra mobile base station.

The Gormandale mobile base station is the third in Gippsland to be switched on under the Mobile Black Spot Programme and was jointly funded by Telstra and the Federal and Victorian Governments.

The new base station now covers Gormandale and surrounds with mobile coverage including the latest 4GX technology, and addresses a known black spot the community wanted fixed.

Telstra Area General Manager Loretta Willaton said testing of the site was now complete and feedback from local residents and businesses to the area had been universally positive since the mobile base station had been switched on.

“Prior to the Mobile Black Spot Programme, Gormandale had no mobile coverage. The feedback I have personally received is that the ability to seamlessly use a mobile in and around town has made a great difference to residents and businesses,” he said.

“Whether it’s to call family and friends, surf the internet and social media or for businesses on-the-go, it’s great so many have embraced the new coverage this base station has brought.

“Australia is a big country and we are proud to be part of this important initiative which is connecting so many more regional and rural communities.”

As part of the Mobile Black Spot Programme, Telstra will be building 429 new 3G/4G mobile base stations in black spots across regional Australia. Construction will take place across the next three years with Austins Hill already live and planning and construction commencing at Mirboo, Carrajung Lower, Dumbalk and Sandy Point.

The Mobile Black Spot Programme involves an investment of more than $340 million in regional and rural Australia, with $165 million from Telstra, $94.8 million from the Federal Government and tens of millions in targeted additional funding from State and Local Governments.

Telstra recently launched a user friendly tool for communities to follow the rollout of the Round One mobile base stations.

The new online Mobile Black Spot Site Locator includes a map that lets people search for base stations being rolled out in their particular area and provides information about expected timing.

The website can be accessed at: www.telstra.com/blackspot.

Note: Mobile Base Stations in Gippsland already live include Austins Hill and Benambra.