KALKEE’S new mobile phone tower will allow football and speedway fans post to Facebook, along with basic calls and texts.
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Member for Mallee Andrew Broad and Telstra area manager Steve Tinker opened the new tower on Thursday.
“In Kalkee residents will be able to make a phone call, basically,” Mr Broad said.
A crowd of people gathered at the Kalkee community centre and football ground to test what the nearby tower offered.
Kalkee’s Blue Ribbon Raceway volunteer Dean Thomas said the new tower would be good for visitors.
“People will be able to text and use Facebook,” he said.
Blackheath grain and pulse farmer Hamish Exell said he hoped the area would now get out of the mobile blackspot.
“Ten years ago people were using UHF radios but now we can make calls and farmers can be a bit more secretive,” he said.
Mr Exell said the new mobile internet service would also help him use the Country Fire Authority’s smartphone app during bushfires.
Mr Tinker demonstrated on his iPad the 4G mobile internet speeds at Kalkee Recreation Reserve could match high-speed fixed lines.
“Thanks for waiting. It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
Mr Broad said the federal government’s $100 million mobile blackspot program would help bring dozens of new towers to the Wimmera and Mallee.
“The electorate of Mallee is one third of the state of Victoria and one of the most critical issues we have is that mobile phone coverage has not been good enough,” he said.
“This is round one, it delivers 18 towers plus four boosters. It’s about safety, fire prevention and quality of life for people reliant on mobile connections.”