Mobile coverage in Western Australia’s North West will be improved as eleven towers will be switched on with funds from the state government.

The shires of Ashburton, Broome, Derby-West Kimberly, East Pilbara and Roebourne will receive boosted mobile telephone coverage and access to high-speed wireless broadband.

After this implementation, the total sites delivered from be at 20 out of 113.

As part of the Regional Mobile Communications Project (RMCP), Telstra was awarded $39.2 million in the Royalties for Regions program to implement the project.

The Department of Commerce and the Department of Regional Development and Lands administers the RMCP, which will take three years to complete.

Science and Innovation Minister, John Day said Telstra’s support of the project is helping to break down the digital divide in rural and remote WA.

Mr Day said the project is providing vital infrastructure to the day-to-day delivery of scientific results and the field operations of emergency response units.

This is in addition to residents being able to use their mobiles and access the internet in previously identified black-spots.

According to the WA Government, community, business, research and emergency response units are all benefiting from the project.

Mr Day said researchers and scientists travelling along the state’s major regional highways could access online data repositories such as the state government supported Integrated Marine Observing System database.

Regional Development Minister, Brendon Grylls said the towers at McCann Well and Peedamulla in the Shire of Ashburton will ensure people have reliable telecommunications

“The RMCP complements the existing work taking place to attract more people to live and work in the region,” Mr Grylls said.
 
“The Pilbara is one of Australia’s most important economic zones with a number of Western Australia’s resource projects located in the area.”