Emmaville residents will soon have the luxury of choice in mobile phone providers following an announcement by Optus that it would expand its 3G network by the end of next year.
The $315 million program that was announced last Wednesday will increase coverage to reach 98 per cent of the population and includes a new base station at Emmaville.
The new Emmaville station will be one of more than 750 added around Australia and will extend coverage by 400,000 square kilometres to a total network coverage of more than one million square kilometres, the company claims.
The cost and commencement date specific to the Emmaville work could not be confirmed by Optus, which said the national project is being conducted as a whole and is still in its early planning stages.
The location of the tower was also yet to be confirmed but it is expected to be in close proximity to the Telstra Next G tower as the Telecommunications Act requires due to environmental impacts, a spokesperson said.
Independent Member for New England Tony Windsor welcomed the announcement and said it was a necessary move to help smaller communities.
“It is particularly pleasing to see the number of smaller communities to be covered by Optus and I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate them on their decision to put their service into these communities,” he said.
“The people of these smaller communities deserve and need access to a quality mobile and broadband network and I hope all runs smoothly in Optus’ delivery to these people.”