Andrew Colley | July 04, 2008
THE federal Government has released an $8 million tender to fill holes in Australia's rural mobile service coverage.
The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) has allocated the money under its 2008-2009 Mobile Connect program. The program aims to fill mobile service black spots around rural highways and communities.The Mobile Connect program was part of the Howard Government's $1.1 billion Connect Australia package to improve telecommunications in regional areas.
A spokesman for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that the government would only invite one supplier to fulfil the tender.
"The Rudd Government has a preference for coverage being provided to population centres where there are also community services such as schools, police, health and council services," Senator Conroy said.
The federal Government has identified 10 communities in remote areas of the Northern Territory and Western Australia that will be given priority under the program. They include Warburton, Yungngora and Docker River in Western Australia, and Ampilatwatja, Looma, Umbakumba, Alpurrurulam, Palumpa, Kintore and Minjilang in the Northern Territory.