The NT Chief Minister announced on the 19th October that $40 million will be invested in joint program between Telstra and Government to bring mobile coverage to a number of towns including four in the Roper Gulf region.
The new telecommunication services will be rolled out over the next three years and includes Bulman, Weemol, Minyerri and Manyallaluk. This will bring mobile coverage to these towns which are currently mobile black spots.
Barunga will also get a fixed Broadband service.
Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Mayor Tony Jack was very pleased with the announcement.
“We have been lobbying together with Sunrise Health and other agencies to get mobile coverage for these black spots for years. It has always come down to cost benefit and our small communities have missed out.
Our residents and businesses in these towns felt like they had been forgotten. This will bring better community connection and huge safety improvements for these communities. It will also open new opportunities for businesses, education and health services.
We will wait to see the detailed Telstra feasibility studies but Council applauds the Territory Government and Telstra in allocating funds to provide these communities the basic telecommunication access enjoyed by 95% of the rest of the Australian population,” he said following the announcement at the recent Indigenous Economic Forum held in Alice Springs.
For further details please direct your enquiries to Michael Berto, CEO Roper Gulf Regional Council on 08 8972 9000
ENDS