By Jessica Anstice
Mobile phone towers in the Cardinia Shire will be able to keep operating longer if there is a power outage during or after natural disaster, thanks to Federal Government funding.
Optus will upgrade the Gembrook North mobile phone tower’s battery, to provide a minimum of 12 hours of back-up power.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher, said telecommunications, including mobile phone towers, need reliable power sources to operate.
“Telecommunications – including mobile phone towers – rely on power to operate,” he said.
“This investment will allow mobile phone towers to keep operating for at least 12 hours after the power goes out, making a real difference for communities during and after a natural disaster.”
Member for La Trobe Jason Wood said extending the battery life of the mobile phone towers would increase telecommunications resilience in the region.
“The Morrison McCormack government is investing in battery back-up to keep mobile phone towers operating longer when the power goes out during or after natural disasters,” he said.
“This includes towers at Gembrook North.”
The government is providing a total of $13.2 million to Telstra, Optus and TPG to extend the battery back up at 467 mobile phone towers across the country, under stage one of the program.
