Vodafone Australia, together with Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, today announced the arrival of a new Vodafone mobile tower in Savernake, New South Wales.
The new tower marks the first time the community of Savernake, and neighbouring community Rennie, will have access to Vodafone’s 4G mobile network. It’s also the first time local residents in the area can choose from more than one mobile service provider.
Vodafone’s new mobile tower is located outside Savernake’s town centre and was built under the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program and provides more than 165 square kilometres of new 4G coverage to local residents and those travelling along major transport routes surrounding Savernake and Rennie.
To help the community celebrate the arrival of the new tower, Vodafone hosted local residents and community groups at the Savernake at the Savernake School of the Arts Hall.
Vodafone Chief Executive Officer Iñaki Berroeta said Vodafone’s new site in Savernake is part of Vodafone’s continued network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and services in regional Australia.
“We are competing vigorously to improve mobile services in regional parts of Australia. By working with government and participating in the Mobile Black Spots Program, we are seeking to expand access to mobile coverage for regional Australians and all of the economic and social benefits it enables,” Mr Berroeta said.
“After a long campaign from the residents of Savernake and Rennie for more choice and better mobile coverage, we are thrilled to be the first telco to deliver an alternative option for mobile service in the area and inject a little competition into the telecommunications landscape in regional New South Wales.
“In conjunction with other existing and upcoming towers in the area, there will soon be continuous coverage on major highways to support local residents, business owners and emergency services travelling between Corowa, Lowesdale and Berrigan.”
As part of the celebration Vodafone presented a $5000 donation to the Rural Fire Service to support the ongoing efforts and vital assistance provided by local emergency services.
“Connectivity is indispensable in ensuring any community can continue to thrive. Emergency services in the area have faced many challenges in recent years. This donation is both a thank you for the incredible work they’ve done, and a commitment to ensuring that their amazing work will continue in the future and these communities will continue to go from strength to strength,” said Mr Berroeta.
Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley said the announcement of Vodafone’s new mobile tower for the Savernake region under the Mobile Black Spots Programme, is a long awaited step forward for the residents of Savernake and Rennie.
“This is a significant moment for Savernake and Rennie. More access to reliable mobile coverage and greater competition is something these communities have been waiting for, for a long time and I am thrilled to see it come to fruition.”
“Mobile coverage for the communities in the Farrer Electorate is something I have worked hard for and I will continue to work hard to ensure Australians living in regional New South Wales have access to reliable mobile services,” Said Ms Ley.
In the Riverina Area Vodafone is building 17 towers, 14 as part of the Mobile Black Spot Program. Vodafone continues to invest in its network in regional areas across Australia. In 2016 and 2017 Vodafone invested more than $3.7m to expand its 4G network in key regional centres in Victoria including Albury – Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura-Wentworth and Shepparton.
