A NEW phone tower in the Wimmera was officially switched on at Sheep Hills on Thursday.
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The tower, jointly funded by Telstra and the state and federal governments, is part of the mobile blackspots program.
The tower was one of 18 new mobile based stations announced last year.
Member for Mallee Andrew Broad and Telstra area general manager Steve Tinker turned on the tower.
Mr Broad said people in regional areas shouldn’t have to experience poor service.
“First rate businesses, Wimmera Mallee residents, farmers and communities needs to have good telecommunications,” he said.
“It is so great that the government partnered with Telstra to turn this tower on.”
The new Sheep Hills base station will include 4GX technology.
A tower at Wombelano has also been turned on.
Mr Tinker said feedback from residents, businesses and tourists to the area had been universally positive.
“Prior to the mobile blackspot program, Sheep Hills and Wombelano had no mobile coverage,” he said.
“It is a fantastic thing for the residents and in particular the farmers and businesses at Sheep Hills to have high speed connectively and 4GX technology.
“These are things they did have the luxury of before.”
Mr Tinker said the launch on Thursday was the start of many more locations in the Wimmera and Mallee.
“We will be turning on more towers over the next two to three years, which is fantastic for the region,” he said.
As part of the mobile black program, Telstra will build 429 new mobile base stations throughout the country.
New Wimmera towers include Minyip, Netherby, Kalkee, Kewell, Marnoo, Chetwynd and Harrow.
Mr Tinker said residents would embrace the new coverage the base station would provide.
“Whether it’s to call family and friends, surf the internet and social media or for businesses on-the-go,” he said.
“Australia is a big country and we are proud to be part of this important initiative that is connecting so many more regional and rural communities.”
Mr Tinker said Telstra had created a new tool for people to stay up to the date with the tower rollouts.
“Telstra’s new online mobile blackspot site locator includes a map that lets people search for sites being rolled out in their particular area and provides information about the expected rollout timing,” he said.
“It will be updated monthly to ensure everyone has the most up-to-date information.
“The website also contains information about the blackspot program and what Telstra is contributing, as well as answers to a range of frequently asked questions.”
Round two of the program will be announced later this year.
Councils and Wimmera Development Association have submitted applications for round two.
The association’s submission lists more than 180 locations in the region.
