Telstra’s regional general manager Jenny Gray has assured rural people living on the edge of network coverage that reception won’t retreat with the 3G shutdown.
She said while 3G’s reach is currently greater than 4G’s, the telco will be making adjustments so that 4G goes further.
“We’re committed to extending 4G coverage to match the existing 3G coverage,” she said.
“By the time of the 3G shutdown, people should have 4G coverage in those same areas.”
Ms Gray said the extended 4G coverage would be achieved by a range of measures, including upgrading existing 3G sites with 4G technology, adding new 4G sites and “optimising others” to create equivalent 4G coverage in areas where 3G only coverage exists.
The telco has previously put limits on 4G reach to ensure older devices could connect, but is now able to remove those restrictors.
Ms Gray said network reconfigurations were “going pretty well” and the telco was also conducting “drive-by surveys” of known fringe coverage areas to ensure overall coverage did not retreat.
In the case of devices which use 4G for data but 3G for phone calls, after the shutdown they could be either obsolete or require a user to turn on a new feature – known as Voice-Over-LET.
Telstra is urging people to check the status of their devices – including ones operating Telsta-affiliated networks such as Aldi and Boost – by texting ‘3’ to 3498, to find out if they need to take action with a 3G-only device or a 4G device without Voice-Over-LTE.
In the case of farm devices – such as sensors and boosters – the telco says people have to contact the device manufacturer or retailer.
Telstra also told the Yarrawonga Chronicle it is currently scoping sites for a new mobile tower at Lowesdale, north of Corowa, which already hosts a Vodafone facility.
Telstra says it has no timeline on securing a site, but is committed to finding a site there.
“We do recognise coverage could be improved around Lowesdale, and we are looking at options of bringing new connectivity in that area,” Ms Gray said.
Meanwhile, federal member for Indi Helen Haines is urging regional Australians to participate in the three-yearly Regional Telecommunications Review.
Dr Haines recently hosted the review panel at a forum in Benalla, saying: “One message I heard loud and clear was the need for more generators and batteries to provide backup to mobile phone towers when the power goes out.”
Submissions to the review are due by July 31 – go to infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/2024-regional-telecommunications-review for more.
Furthermore, a new advocacy group to promote digital connectivity in the Riverina-Murray has been established – bringing together 11 councils north of the Murray River as well as other stakeholders.
The group – led by the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation – will meet quarterly to address issues like blackspots and poor slow or patchy internet connections.
Go to ramjo.nsw.gov.au/digital-connectivity for more.