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Overview
Ongoing provision of services
List of towns
Media releases

Overview

Under the 'Towns Over 500' program, funding was provided to Telstra to improve mobile phone coverage to 131 towns in regional Australia which have populations of 500 or more. This program was developed in response to concerns raised in the Telecommunications Service Inquiry about mobile phone coverage in regional areas.

The contract with Telstra followed a competitive process.

The rollout of new services was completed in September 2006.

Coverage information for towns where services are operational can be obtained from www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/coverage/maps.cfm.

Ongoing provision of services

Under its contract with the Australian Government, Telstra must continue to provide services to each of the towns for 10 years after they are put in place. Telstra also has a number of other contractual commitments, including reporting in relation to quality of service, an obligation to provide similar services at similar prices to those offered on the rest of its network, and to offer roaming on each of the sites funded by the Australian Government. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will be responsible for ongoing monitoring of these commitments.

List of towns

New South Wales
Adelong, Anna Bay, Ashford, Baradine, Bermagui*, Binnaway, Boggabri, Bowraville, Brandy Hill, Bundanoon, Burrill Lake, Clarence Town, Coraki, Coutts Crossing, Crescent Head*, Culburra-Orient Point*, Culcairn, Currarong, Darlington Point, Dorrigo*, Dunedoo, Eugowra, Evans Head*, Fingal Bay*, Ganmain, Glossodia*, Hallidays Point , Harrington, Hastings Point*, Henty, Hilltop, Howlong, Katoomba-Wentworth Falls, Malua Bay*, Manildra*, Molong*, Moruya*, Moruya Heads*, Mossy Point-Broulee, Oakdale*, Old Bar, Pacific Palms-Blueys Beach*, Peak Hill, Portland, Pottsville Beach, Quirindi, Smiths Lake*, South West Rocks*, Stanwell Park*, Stroud, Stuarts Point, Suffolk Park*, Tathra*, The Rock, Tomakin, Wingham*, Wooli*

Northern Territory
Borroloola, Lajamanu, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Oenpelli, Timber Creek, Yuendumu

Queensland
Arcadia Bay*, Beachmere*, Beerwah, Bingil Bay*, Clifton*, Cooloola Village*, Cooran, Doomadgee, Dunwich*, Eidsvold, Goombungee*, Herberton, Horseshoe Bay*, Jandowae*, Jimboomba*, Johnstone South, Killarney*, Moore Park, Mount Morgan*, Nelly Bay*, Nerang, Palm Islands, Pomona*, Russell-Macleay Islands*, Seaforth*, Woodgate, Woorabinda, Yaroomba*, Yarrabah

South Australia
Cowell, Freeling, Gladstone, Greenock, Hamley Bridge, Leigh Creek, Mallala

Victoria
Bruthen, Chiltern, Clunes, Dunolly, Heyfield, Koroit, Maldon*, Malmsbury, Mount Macedon, Murtoa, Newstead, Nyah West, Pyramid Hill, Riddells Creek, San Remo, Stratford, Terang, Tongala, Tooradin, Tyabb, Warneet East

Western Australia
Boddington, Boyanup, Broome, Byford, Chidlow, East Bullsbrook, La Grange, Little Grove, Roebourne, Two Rocks

All towns receive CDMA coverage. Those marked with an asterisk (*) receive GSM.

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Media releases

15 May 2001
General TSI - Listening and delivering on better regional telecommunications services

9 August 2001
Tender for improved mobile phone coverage to small towns

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• Document ID: 7180 |
• Last modified: 6 February 2008, 1:50pm