Victorian-SA border telecommunications upgrade

The upgrade, jointly funded by Telstra and the federal government, will see a new 4GX tower installed at Rennick, on the border, as part of the Regional Connectivity Program.

"The new 4GX mobile site at Rennick will increase mobile network coverage and capacity, providing improved customer experience and faster mobile data throughout," Telstra acting regional general manager Marcus Swinburne said.

"We'll upgrade our site from 3G to 4GX, increase capacity and transmission links to the site and bring new and improved coverage and capacity to sections of the Princes Highway."

This new site is expected to deliver new and improved coverage to around 40 homes and businesses as well as a 16-kilometre section of the Princes Highway.

Regional Australia would benefit from an additional 42 telecommunications infrastructure projects that Telstra would deliver under the federal government's Regional Connectivity Program (RCP).

Mr Swinburne said that brought the co-nvestment partnership with the government on the RCP to a total of 72 sites around the country, with Telstra investing over $24 million of its own capital toward the build.

The projects include new mobile towers and delivery of improved high-speed broadband services in areas that needed it the most.

The projects range from transmission, coverage, and capacity upgrades plus construction of new mobile base stations in blackspot areas.

"We know better than anyone the challenges involved in connecting regional and remote communities. It's partnerships like this and the significant investments we're making in regional areas that will help all Australians participate fully in the digital economy," Mr Swinburne said.

"Joint funding programs like the RCP and the Mobile Black Spot Program are essential in helping deliver better communications for regional and remote locations."

In the five years to end June 2021, Telstra had invested $3bn in building and improving its mobile network in regional areas.