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WA dishes out AU$45 million more for 85 mobile towers

The Western Australia government has extended its Royalties for Regions funding, with AU$45 million going to fund 85 more mobile towers in regional locations.
Written by Josh Taylor, Contributor

Western Australia will roll out 85 more mobile towers across the state, with an AU$45 million boost to its Royalties for Regions program.

Telstra won the initial AU$39.2 million contract in 2012 to build out 113 mobile sites and increase the company's mobile network coverage in the state by 22 percent. This project was completed in September 2014.

The telco giant has now secured AU$10 million to build the first 22 towers as part of the Regional Telecommunications Project (RTP).

"The RTP will provide 85 mobile phone towers across regional WA over the next four years to reduce gaps in mobile telephone and data coverage, particularly in small communities and at strategic locations in regional WA," WA Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said in a statement.

Construction on the first tower is expected to begin in March and be finished in June, and until then, Telstra has deployed a mobile cell on wheels to Gracetown.

The first 22 sites are Wongan Hills Town, Nyabing, Gracetown, Arrino, Ongerup North, Boorabbin, Tammin, Nilemah RT, Albany West, Bolgart, Cranbrook West, Wickepin, Peaceful Bay, Molloy Island, Salmon Gums, Grass Patch, Nyamup, Wilyabrup, Westonia, Muntadgin, Highbury, and Yerecoin.

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