Councillor Jenny O’Neil and Federal MP Sussan Ley have been campaigning for better mobile coverage in Jindera. Photo: Sussan Ley MP.
After a long-running battle, Telstra says Jindera residents will soon have better mobile phone coverage after it finalised plans to transfer equipment to an existing 40-metre Optus tower.
The telecommunications giant says there’ll be a better 4G and 5G user experience after the site moves from the existing 15 m structure in Urana Street to a much larger structure at Jindera Recreation Reserve.
However, it warned that services in the area will be temporarily affected while the relocation works are carried out.
“While disruption is required during the relocation work, we’ll only be switching off the site when we need to and will have it back online at the new location and working better than ever as quickly as possible,” Telstra regional general manager Chris Taylor said.
“As data use over our mobile network continues to grow, adding extra 4G and 5G capacity to our mobile site in the area is a major mobile milestone. Relocating our equipment onto a taller structure will deliver broader coverage to the area. The upgrade means faster downloads, smoother streaming and less congestion.”
Telstra mobile customers will receive texts advising of the upcoming work. Landline services, NBN internet services, and mobile coverage from other providers will not be impacted.
The site will need to be switched off for up to eight hours a day between 7 am and 7 pm from Tuesday, 28 January, to Saturday, 1 February.
Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, who launched a petition last October demanding better coverage, welcomed the news.
She said she stepped up pressure on Telstra last year after residents and businesses continually complained of dropouts and signal capacity issues.
It later emerged Telstra had regulatory approvals in place to move from a 20 m tower in the town centre to the Recreation Reserve, but would only give an estimated works timetable pushed out to 2026.
“The original timeframe was simply not good enough. Even now we’re a month later than hoped, but I guess we’re almost there,” Ms Ley said.
“This growth area northwest of Albury is increasing in population by around 4 per cent per annum and it is vital communication needs keep up with the demand.
“So, well done to the Jindera community, led by local Greater Hume councillor Jenny O’Neill, for helping push this along – I’m hoping the wait is worth it, particularly for customers outside of town, including Glenellen and parts of Ettamogah and Bungowannah.”
The Telstra transfer comes as NBN confirmed its high-speed upgrade to the fixed wireless network serving Jindera was completed last month.
Michelle Milthorpe, who is running as an independent against Ms Ley in Farrer at the upcoming federal election, says the major parties have been too slow in improving mobile connectivity for the bush.
“Over 12 years ago, the government identified the need for a Mobile Black Spot funding program as part of their 2011-2012 Regional Telecommunications Review. It took until December 2015 before the first of the towers constructed under the program were switched on, and nine years later, much of Farrer is still in the dark,” she said.
“Independent Member for Indi Helen Haines has achieved great things for her rural and regional constituents through this Mobile Black Spot Program, with Indi ranking No. 1 in Victoria and No. 4 in Australia for funding allocation to address this issue. Farrer has ranked No. 22 on the national scale.
“The recent attention being given to only two locations right outside Albury is just too little, too late … we deserve better.”
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