New mobile coverage in the Karijini National Park has switched on new possibilities for attendees of the annual Karijini Experience Festival, made possible through the Coalition Government’s $220 million Mobile Black Spot Program.
Minister for Regional Communications, Senator Bridget McKenzie, and Senator for Western Australia, Dean Smith, welcomed the activation of three new Optus small cell base stations, launched in time for festival goers to take full advantage.
“It’s wonderful to take part in this year’s festivities at the Karijini Experience Festival, a fantastic celebration of Indigenous culture, music and art, and a magnificent showcase of our picturesque Pilbara region,” Senator Smith said.
“Now, for the first time, mobile coverage is available at the Visitor Centre, Campground and the Eco Resort, with three new Optus sites providing coverage to some of Western Australia’s remotest areas.”
The new coverage has helped organisers further enhance the festival’s facilities, such as allowing attendees to share their festival experience on social media more readily than before.
Minister McKenzie said the new phone reception made possible through the
Mobile Black Spot Program will open up a world of new possibilities for the area, including the promotion of tourism.
“I congratulate Optus on today’s milestone, and I’m so excited to see what this new mobile coverage will bring to the region. Improving communications for patrons visiting the Karijini Experience Festival is just the beginning,” Minister McKenzie said.
“We are now well past the halfway mark for the rollout of rounds 1 and 2 of the program, and have just announced the successful locations to receive improved coverage under a third round targeting priority areas.”
In total, the Coalition Government is delivering new or improved coverage to 867 locations across Australia. These base stations will benefit hundreds of communities that previously had limited or no mobile coverage, which may never have been addressed without the support of Commonwealth funding.
The base station rollout schedules for all three rounds of the program can be found on the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone websites.
For more information on the Mobile Black Spot Program visit: www.communications.gov.au/mbsp