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FAQ - Mobile phone coverage-regional highways
Issue
This FAQ provides an overview of an Australian Government Program to improve mobile phone coverage on selected regional highways.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How was the list of highways developed?
2. Which Highways will receive coverage?
3. Will complete coverage be provided to each highway?
4. What technology will be used and why was it chosen?
5. Can I benefit from this increased coverage if I am not a Telstra customer?
6. What will be the benefit for regional Australia from this decision?
7. When will services become available?
8. What laws must Telstra adhere to in acquiring sites and building towers?
9. Are there any health risks to local communities from mobile phone towers?
1. How was the list of highways developed?
Highways were identified based on information from carriers regarding existing coverage, and consultation with State and Territory Governments.
2. Which Highways will receive coverage?
Description of coverage to be provided to the designated regional highways is attached.
3. Will complete coverage be provided to each highway?
This program is providing spot coverage rather than continuous coverage along the highways. Telstra is committed to providing coverage on designated lengths of highway, which will also mean coverage to surrounding areas. Maps can be viewed at www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/index.htm. Several spots have known coverage gaps (or blackspots) due to terrain limitations and coverage may also be affected in some areas such as in road cuttings.
4. What technology will be used and why was it chosen?
Following a competitive tender process, the contract was awarded to Telstra for the provision of a CDMA service.
The technology used (CDMA or GSM) was not an evaluation criterion, as both technologies could advance reasonable arguments as to why their technology should be favoured. CDMA currently has the greatest coverage particularly in regional areas, while it could equally be argued there are higher numbers of subscribers for GSM and likely to be a greater number of GSM users on the highways.
The winning tender was decided on overall quality and value for money according to the selection criteria.
5. Can I benefit from this increased coverage if I am not a Telstra customer?
Telstra is required under the contract to make an offer to carriers to negotiate roaming agreements. These roaming arrangements are available within the areas of mobile coverage provided by base stations constructed by Telstra under the contract with the Commonwealth. Inter-carrier roaming potentially allows all CDMA mobile phone users, including those who are customers of another CDMA carrier, to benefit from the increased coverage. At this stage there are no roaming agreements in place in relation to Designated Regional Highways project. Roaming is not possible between CDMA and GSM networks as the technologies do not interact.
A number of companies currently resell Telstra CDMA services to their customers, including; Austar, Cellular 1, Hutchison Orange, Primus, SingTel Optus, and Southern Cross.
6. What will be the benefit for regional Australia from this decision?
- high quality mobile phone services
- a substantial increase in mobile phone coverage with 62 lengths over 34 highways, Australia-wide, receiving new coverage
- Telstra is contributing a substantial investment in the CDMA mobile phone network to complement the Commonwealth's outlay of $19 million
- flow-on benefits to regional economies (employment and expenditure)
- long term boost to regional economies through improved regional communications infrastructure
- subscribers to other CDMA networks potentially having access to this new coverage through inter-carrier roaming agreements.
7. When will services become available?
The rollout of mobile phone infrastructure and services is due for completion by 30 June 2004.
8. What laws must Telstra adhere to in acquiring sites and building towers?
Telstra must ensure that when carrying out the Agreement with the Commonwealth, it complies with all relevant Commonwealth, State and local government laws, regulations and by-laws.
Telstra is also required to comply with relevant industry codes of practice that are registered with the Australian Communications and Media Authority. In particular, the Deployment of Radiocommunications Infrastructure Code, which came into full effect on 10 April 2003, and deals with matters including complaint handling, consultation and information on electromagnetic radiation. Further information is available at the Australian Communications and Media Authority website (www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.262312:STANDARD::pc=PC_2524).
9. Are there any health risks to local communities from mobile phone towers?
Strict standards have been developed on emissions from mobile towers and the Australian standards that apply are even more stringent than most overseas regulations. Placement and operation of mobile base stations under the program are in full compliance with Australian standards.
Further information on Electromagnetic energy can be found on the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts website at Electromagnetic energy (EME) emissions information.
Description of coverage to be provided to the designated regional highways
|
Designated Highway |
State/Territory |
Name of Site* |
Amount of coverage to be provided* |
Location of Site |
|
Barrier |
NSW |
Korreo |
56kms |
Approximately half way between Wilcannia and Cobar |
|
Barrier |
NSW |
MacCullochs Range |
30kms |
East of Wilcannia heading towards Cobar |
|
Barrier |
NSW |
Mt Boppy |
46kms |
East of Cobar heading towards Nyngan |
|
Bruxner |
NSW |
Barwick |
30kms |
West of Tenterfield heading towards Goondiwindi |
|
Bruxner |
NSW |
Halam Trig |
105kms |
Approximately half way between Tenterfield and Goondiwindi |
|
Cobb |
NSW |
Booligal |
55kms |
North of Hay heading towards Ivanhoe |
|
Cobb |
NSW |
Booroorban |
52kms |
South of Hay heading towards Deniliquin |
|
Golden |
NSW |
Cassillis |
46kms |
East of Dunedoo heading towards Muswellbrook |
|
Golden |
NSW |
Glenrubie Station |
25kms |
East of Dunedoo heading towards Muswellbrook |
|
Golden |
NSW |
Elong Elong |
58kms |
Approximately half way between Dubbo and Dunedoo |
|
Gwydir |
NSW |
Copmanhurst |
26kms |
North west of Grafton |
|
Gwydir |
NSW |
Delta RT |
46kms |
East of Glen Innes |
|
Mitchell |
NSW |
Caronga Peak |
54kms |
Approximately half way between Nyngan and Bourke |
|
Mitchell |
NSW |
Tarwoona Downs |
54kms |
Enngonia - north of Bourke |
|
Silver City |
NSW |
Coombah |
55kms |
Coombah Roadhouse approximately half way between Broken Hill and Wentworth |
|
Silver City |
NSW |
Tibooburra |
48kms |
In and around Tibooburra |
|
Snowy Mountains |
NSW |
Big Talbingo Mountain |
35kms |
South of Tumut |
|
Snowy Mountains |
NSW |
Mt Selwyn |
16kms |
Approximately half way between Tumut and Cooma |
|
Snowy Mountains |
NSW |
Wambrook RT |
30kms |
West of Cooma |
|
Arnhem |
NT |
Marraki |
43kms |
South east of Darwin |
|
Barkly |
NT |
Barkly Roadhouse |
50kms |
In and around Barkly Homestead east of Tennant Creek |
|
Stuart |
NT |
Elliot |
34kms |
South of Newcastle Waters north of Tennant Creek |
|
Stuart |
NT |
Ti-Tree |
75kms |
North of Alice Springs heading towards Tennant Creek |
|
Balonne |
Qld |
Bollon |
55kms |
West of St George heading towards Cunnamulla |
|
Barkly |
Qld |
Camooweal |
90kms |
In and around Camooweal |
|
Capricorn |
Qld |
Jericho |
35kms |
In and around Jericho - east of Barcaldine heading towards Alpha and Emerald |
|
Capricorn |
Qld |
Willows |
60kms |
West of Emerald heading towards Alpha and Barcaldine |
|
Carnarvon |
Qld |
Nindigully |
60kms |
In and around Nindigully - south of St George heading towards Mungindi |
|
Dawson |
Qld |
Kiddell Plains |
40kms |
West of Moura to Bauhinia |
|
Flinders |
Qld |
Burra/ Pentland |
70kms |
In and around Torrens Creek and Pentland each of Hughenden |
|
Kennedy |
Qld |
Ravenshoe |
50kms |
In and around Ravenshoe heading towards Mt Garnet |
|
Kennedy |
Qld |
Clohesy |
17kms |
South of Kuranda heading towards Mareeba |
|
Landsborough |
Qld |
Chorregon |
65kms |
Between Winton and Longreach |
|
Landsborough |
Qld |
Rosewood |
65kms |
In and around Augathella heading towards Tambo |
|
Mitchell |
Qld |
Wyandra |
70kms |
Approximately half way between Charleville and Cunnamulla |
|
Moonie |
Qld |
Westmar |
50kms |
East of St George heading towards Dalby |
|
Peak Downs |
Qld |
Spencer Gap |
30kms |
South of Mackay heading towards Nebo |
|
Warrego |
Qld |
Morven |
70kms |
In and around Morven - east of Charleville |
|
Barrier |
SA |
Yunta |
34kms |
In and around Yunta |
|
Eyre |
SA |
Eucla |
60kms |
Border Village/Eucla |
|
Eyre |
SA |
Nullarbor Roadhouse |
60kms |
In and around Nullarbor Roadhouse |
|
Eyre |
SA |
Penong |
61kms |
Penong west of Ceduna |
|
Stuart |
SA |
Glendambo |
41kms |
South of Coober Pedy heading towards Woomera |
|
Stuart |
SA |
Marla |
17kms |
Approximately half way between Coober Pedy and the SA/NT border |
|
Lyell |
Tas |
Derwent Bridge |
34kms |
In and around Derwent Bridge |
|
Tasman |
Tas |
Little Swanport |
30kms |
In and around Little Swanport and south towards Triabunna |
|
Cann Valley |
Vic |
Noorinbee |
19kms |
North of the Cann River |
|
Great Alpine Road |
Vic |
Ensay |
11kms |
South of Omeo |
|
Great Alpine Road |
Vic |
Swifts Creek |
23kms |
South of Omeo |
|
Great Alpine Road |
Vic |
Tambo |
31kms |
Approximately half way between Omeo and Bairnsdale |
|
Great Ocean Road |
Vic |
Aireys Inlet |
12kms |
South of Anglesea |
|
Great Ocean Road |
Vic |
Apostles |
13kms |
Near the Twelve Apostles |
|
Great Ocean Road |
Vic |
Johanna |
8kms |
In and around Johanna |
|
Great Ocean Road |
Vic |
Wattle Hill |
26kms |
Near lower Gellibrand |
|
Great Ocean Road |
Vic |
Wye River |
12kms |
In and around Wye River - south of Lorne |
|
Murray Valley |
Vic |
Bullioh |
17kms |
East of Old Tallangatta |
|
Murray Valley |
Vic |
Hunters Hill |
20kms |
West of Corryong |
|
Sunraysia |
Vic |
Redbank |
19kms |
South of St Arnaud |
|
Sunraysia |
Vic |
Stuart Mill |
28kms |
South of St Arnaud |
|
Sunraysia |
Vic |
Woomelang |
31kms |
South of Ouyen heading towards Birchip |
|
Highway 1 |
WA |
Overlander Roadhouse |
73kms |
North of Geraldton near Monkey Mia |
|
Highway 1 |
WA |
Yule |
45kms |
South west of Port Hedland |
* Details of the proposed coverage is based on predictions of coverage provided at preferred sites. Where a site cannot be accessed, alternative coverage may be provided.