Two rural areas in Farrer are now benefitting from new and improved mobile phone coverage, as part of the local rollout of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP).

Wanganella (north of Deniliquin) and Merriwagga (between Griffith & Hillston) join more than 700 locations across Australia connecting to better mobile coverage through the $220 million Program.

Local MP Sussan Ley says “along with Bunnaloo and Calimo, Wanganella completes the three Telstra towers promised for the mid-Murray under our government’s Mobile Black Spots Program”.

“Merriwagga is another of 14 local towers being built under the MBSP and I am delighted it is also up and running ahead of the busy Christmas summer period.”

“Fixing these black spots allows local mobile users and travellers to conduct business or essential calls, right through to everyday and routine communication needs. Together with the local nbn rollout, it really is filling some communication gaps we’ve historically experienced in this part of the region.”

The new Telstra mobile base stations at Wanganella and Merriwagga deliver 3G and state of the art 4GX mobile data services* in this area for the first time.

Another Telstra tower at Niemur (south of Moulamein) is due for completion in February. A Vodafone tower for Savernake will be operational by next month, with Lowesdale following in the first half of 2018, as well as two Optus towers separately located on the Sturt Highway.

Nationally, the first two rounds of the MBSP is delivering new or improved signals through 765 new mobile phone towers, to 32,000 homes and businesses across 86,000 square kilometres, bringing in coverage to 7600 major transport routes.

*4GX uses superior 700MHz spectrum that can go further than previous 4G frequencies, creating extra 4G coverage in rural and regional areas.