The Territory Government, in collaboration with Telstra, is continuing to roll out mobile and broadband services in the bush.
Under the latest round of the ongoing NTG-Telstra Remote Telecommunications Co-Investment Program, $28 million has been set aside to get more remote Territory communities connected, with funding to roll out over the four years to 2022.
The first communities to be connected will be Wutunugurra (Epenarra) and Canteen Creek who will receive mobile phone and fixed broadband services in 2020. Avon Downs and Top Springs are expected to have small cell mobile phone services available during 2020. Telstra is continuing to assess other priority sites across the Territory including remote communities, tourist locations and transport corridors.
The co-investment program partnerships between the Territory Government and Telstra have so far delivered new telecommunications infrastructure and services in 37 remote Territory communities.
The latest community switched on to mobile phone services is Atitjere which was connected in May 2019.
Works at Bulla have been prioritised under the program and will see the community connected in 2020.
Alpurrurulam and Belyuen are currently in progress with an estimated completion of late 2019.
Since 2007, the NT Government has jointly funded remote telecommunications infrastructure programs with Telstra to a value of nearly $40 million.
Source: NT Government