NO.043

QUEENSLANDERS TO GET BETTER MOBILE COVERAGE ON HIGHWAYS

A total of 12 regional highways across Queensland will receive improved spot

mobile phone coverage, with Telstra today announced as the successful tenderer

for the $20.4 million Commonwealth Government initiative.

The Treasurer, Mr Peter Costello, made the announcement at the opening of the

Morven Rural Transaction Centre, with the Landsborough and Warrego Highways

two of the Queensland highways to receive funding.

The spot mobile phone coverage will provide real benefits to both local residents

and people who travel these roads, with Australians heavy road users for both

business and recreational purposes.

Morven is a popular spot for bushwalkers and is famous for the large Ooline

Forest at Tregole National Park. Improved mobile phone coverage on the Landsborough

and Warrego Highways surrounding Morven will help visitors stay connected with

family and friends while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

A total of 34 regional highways (see attached list)

will receive improved spot mobile coverage under the initiative where previously

there was little or no terrestrial coverage. While it is not feasible to provide

continuous coverage on many of these highways, this program will provide `spots’

of coverage which will benefit both local residents and business and holiday

travellers.

The spot mobile highway initiative is funded under the Commonwealth Government’s

$50.5 million Regional Mobile Phone Program-part of the Government’s response

to the Telecommunications Service Inquiry (TSI).

Mobile phone coverage is also being improved on more than 9000kms of national

highways as part of the Commonwealth Government’s $25 million Mobile Phones

on Highways program with Vodafone, with coverage under the program expected

to be completed by the end of 2002. Additionally, over $40m has been provided

under the Networking the Nation program to fund 109 mobile phone sites across

Australia.

These initiatives demonstrate the Government’s ongoing commitment to provide

adequate and affordable telecommunications services throughout Australia. Telstra

expects to complete rollout of improved mobile phone coverage on the 34 regional

highways by June 2004.

15 August 2002

HIGHWAYS RECEIVING SPOT COVERAGE UNDER THE $50.5

MILLION REGIONAL MOBILE PHONE PROGRAM

• NEW SOUTH WALES

Barrier Highway; Bruxner Highway; Cobb Highway; Golden Highway; Gwydir Highway;

Mitchell Highway; Silver City Highway; Snowy Mountains Highway

• NORTHERN TERRITORY

Arnhem Highway; Barkly Highway; Stuart Highway

• QUEENSLAND

Balonne Highway; Barkly Highway; Capricorn Highway; Carnarvon Highway; Dawson

Highway; Flinders Highway; Kennedy Highway; Landsborough Highway; Mitchell Highway;

Moonie Highway; Peak Downs Highway; Warrego Highway

• SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Barrier Highway; Eyre Highway; Stuart Highway

• TASMANIA

Lyell Highway; Tasman Highway

• VICTORIA

Cann Valley Highway; Great Alpine Road; Great Ocean Road; Murray Valley Highway;

Sunraysia Highway

• WESTERN AUSTRALIA

North West Coastal Highway (Highway 1)