MOBILE connectivity in Torquay during times of emergency will be improved through the latest round of the federal government’s Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP).<\/p>\n
In the round 2 PUMP grants, $40.9 million will co-fund 47 projects in communities at risk of natural disasters.<\/p>\n
Mobile tower infrastructure company Amplitel has received a grant to address longstanding mobile coverage and reception issues in Torquay.<\/p>\n
The project will upgrade an existing Amplitel site to provide improved 4G and 5G coverage from TPG that will have back-up power supply of at least 12 hours.<\/p>\n
This will allow services to operate for longer in the event of a mains power outage caused by a natural disaster.<\/p>\n
The project is one of 16 successful projects in Victoria under Round 2 of PUMP.<\/p>\n
The 16 projects will deliver more than 800sqkm of 4G and 5G new improved coverage to more than 35,000 homes and businesses.<\/p>\n
The peri-urban fringe is defined as where the bush meets the suburbs, which creates a risk of natural disaster for people living and working there.<\/p>\n
These areas have been historically underserved because of the high cost of deploying infrastructure, difficult terrain, planning challenges and lower population densities.<\/p>\n
The PUMP Round 2 projects were recommended by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts following a competitive, merit-based process.<\/p>\n
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland visited the Geelong region last week to announce the project for Torquay.<\/p>\n
“The Albanese Government understands how vital telecommunication services are for keeping communities safe, connected and informed during disruptions and natural disasters,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Access to telecommunications coverage during a natural disaster can be the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n
“This is why we are investing up to $100 million through our Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia to improve the resilience of networks against natural disasters.<\/p>\n
“The PUMP projects are part of this commitment. Better connectivity will allow communities, like those around Torquay, to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.<\/p>\n
Ms Coker said the Torquay grant reflected her government’s commitment to improving the resilience of mobile networks across the Geelong region.<\/p>\n
“While no network is ever 100 per cent disaster-proof, our government is determined to do what we can to boost the resilience of our telecommunications networks when local communities need them most.<\/p>\n
“Living on the Surf Coast, I know just how important good mobile coverage can be for keeping locals and visitors safe, especially during the peak summer months \u2013 I look forward to seeing the connectivity boost this project will deliver for Torquay \u2013 it’s a great outcome for our region.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MOBILE connectivity in Torquay during times of emergency will be improved through the latest round of the federal government’s Peri-Urban Mobile Program (PUMP). In the round 2 PUMP grants, $40.9 million will co-fund 47 projects in communities at risk of natural disasters. Mobile tower infrastructure company Amplitel has received a grant to address longstanding mobile […]<\/p>\n