Commitment to mobile phone coverage

Nationals Agricultural Region MLC Paul Brown has welcomed the commitment of an additional $45million of Royalties for Regions funding for a second stage of the Regional Mobile Communications Project (RMCP).

Announced during recent State Budget deliberations, Mr Brown said the decision would help build on the success of the current program and continue to improve mobile phone coverage throughout regional WA.

Stage one of RMCP has already delivered 89 of a committed 113 new phone towers in regional WA including Walkaway, Three Springs, Ajana and Binnu South.

On completion of Stage one, some 8,000 kilometres of WA roads will have near continuous mobile coverage and overall coverage across regional WA will be increased by 22 per cent.

“No matter where I go across my electorate mobile phone coverage is an issue which is raised with me regularly,” Mr Brown said.

“Mobile phone coverage is a key aspect of day to day life.

“Be it for emergencies, business, or connectivity the appetite for coverage is insatiable.”

Mr Brown said RMCP had dialled in on an area of great community demand and it was pleasing to see Royalties for Regions continuing to deliver fantastic outcomes.

RMCP has successfully leveraged significant investment from Telstra, which has ensured the sizeable scope of stage one and has been at the core of the program’s success.

Mr Brown called on members of the community who experience major mobile phone black spots to contact his office, so these communities can be considered during the planning of RMCP stage two.

“RMCP is one of my favourite Royalties-funded projects but I need your help to ensure the second stage delivers the best possible outcome for our communities. I encourage you all to contact my office with your concerns,” Mr Brown said.