Mobile phone towers at Puntabie, Cungena and Farm Beach on Eyre Peninsula will be able to keep operating longer if the power goes out during or after natural disasters thanks to a major new investment by the Federal Government.
The Government is funding providers to extend the battery back-up at six mobile phone towers in total across Grey to provide a minimum of 12 hours of back-up power through the Strengthening Telecommunications Emergency Resilience Program
Federal Member for Grey said he was very pleased with this announcement of funding for towers on the EP.
“Telecommunications, including mobile phone towers, need reliable power sources to operate,” he said.
“If a bushfire goes through an area and power is lost to an exchange then services can cease operating.
“This investment will allow mobile phone towers to keep operating for at least 12 hours after the power goes out, making a real difference for communities during and after a natural disaster.
“The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s report into the impact of the 2019-20 summer bushfires on telecommunications networks found that 88 per cent of outages were caused by power outages rather than direct fire damage.
“This program will fund battery backup for Mobile Black Spot Program mobile base stations around the country to keep them operating in the event of a power outage and potentially averting a tragedy because of loss of communication.
“Extending the battery life of the mobile phone towers will increase telecommunications resilience in Grey and give people some peace of mind in these situations.”
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 on the program is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.
Towers to receive funding in Grey are Winninowie in the Upper Spencer Gulf and Curramulka and Port Moorowie on the Yorke Peninsula.
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 02 62774967 December 2 2020