A boost to the battery backup for local mobile phone towers promises to help with communications when the power goes out, be it due to the bushfires so prevalent last year, the current spate of electrical storms or other natural disaster.
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The federal government is funding Telstra and TPG to extend the battery back-up at 31 mobile phone towers in the New England, to provide a minimum of 12 hours of back-up power. In the Tenterfield district this affects towers at Koreelah, Bonshaw, Rocky Creek, Tablulam, Drake and Urbenville.
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Federal Member for New England Barnaby Joyce, said extending the battery life of the mobile phone towers would increase telecommunications resilience during times of natural disasters.
"Recent bushfires exploited the vulnerabilities of our mobile network not by damage to infrastructure but through a loss in power," Mr Joyce said.
"This $18 million Mobile Network Hardening Program will upgrade battery backup power from between 3- 8 hours up to at least 12 hours at base stations. Funding also includes a grants program to support a range of hardening measures at high priority locations to prevent telecommunications outages during disaster events.
"I have worked incredibly hard to secure new and improved mobile coverage across great areas of our New England Electorate so I am pleased to see added protection for these vital communication assets."
The full list of sites in the New England to benefit from the upgrade include Mount Hourigan, Baldersleigh, Koreelah, Pinkett, Doughboy Mountain, Attunga, Balala, Barraba, Bonshaw, Tabulam, Drake, Dungowan, Duri, Elsmore, Fossickers Way, Hallsville, Invergowrie, Kings Plains, Manilla, Moonbi, Oxley Vale, Piallamore, Rocky Creek, Spring Mountain Road, Warral, Urbenville, Walcha, Walcha Road, Westdale, Woolomin and Girard Hill Top (replacement site for Mount Carrington).
The government is providing a total of $13.2 million to Telstra, Optus and TPG to extend the battery back up at 467 mobile phone towers across Australia, under stage one of the program. More information is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.
Round 5A of the $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program is also now open for applications.
