Vodafone Australia announced the expansion of its regional mobile network, with an investment of more than $9 million in 32 new mobile base stations in New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia. The expansion is part of the operator's commitment to increase coverage and choice for customers in regional Australia and to build its growth in areas outside the major metropolitan centres.
The majority of the 32 new sites would be operational by the end of the year, with all to be on-air by the end of 2017, said Vodafone. The 32 new locations are on top of the 70 sites Vodafone is building as part of round one of the Mobile Black Spot Programme in New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.
The operator also plans to put a proposal to the government to buy, at market price, some of the unsold 700MHz spectrum for it to extend its network further to regional areas.
Benoit Hanssen, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone
Over recent years, we have invested billions of dollars in our network to deliver improved access to fast, reliable mobile services, and we want to offer more Australians the coverage and competition they need and deserve.
Dan Lloyd, Chief Strategy Officer , Vodafone
If a permanent Mobile Black Spot Programme was established, potentially using a portion of those USO funds, the number of regional areas to benefit from increased coverage and choice would increase substantially.
