People living in West Coolup can look forward to new and improved mobile services thanks to the Morrison Government’s Regional Connectivity Program (RCP).

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, Regional Communications Minister, Mark Coulton and Member for Canning Andrew Hastie announced how more of the Peel region will benefit from new and improved digital connectivity under the program.

“Over the past five years we’ve worked hard to deliver better telecommunications infrastructure in Canning. This has included over a half a dozen new and upgraded mobile towers across Canning,” Mr Hastie said.

“And now, under Round 1 of the Regional Connectivity Program, a new Telstra 4GX macro cell base station  will be deployed to West Coolup. This will provide more reliable mobile connectivity, helping farms, rural businesses and families stay connected.”

Federal Regional Communications Minister Mark Coulton said the Government was listening to the needs of regional communities and businesses and was pleased to see the RCP being used to support the design and delivery place-based solutions which solved rural connectivity issues.

“This next tranche of projects under the Regional Connectivity Program will make a difference on the ground for local communities,” Minister Coulton said.

“I am pleased with the quality of projects being put forward which are tailored to the needs of each region and are supported by the community; a result of a collaborative approach between the telecommunications industry, businesses, regional communities and local councils.

“Connectivity – digital and physical – is vital for regional Australia to fulfil its full potential to do business, work and raise a family, no more so than now with the unprecedented interest in people living and working in a regional area.”

“This investment will provide targeted uplifts to connectivity in the regional areas which need it the most, ensuring that more Australians can access high-speed, reliable broadband and mobile services,” Minister Fletcher said.

The Federal Government is contributing a total of $117.4 million (GST inclusive) to the first round of the RCP, generating total new investment of more than $232 million (GST inclusive) through co-contributions from funding recipients, state and territory governments and other third parties, such as local governments, regional businesses and community development organisations. 

In addition, the Government has made further funding of $105.8 million available for a second round of the program and will call for applications later this year, following consultation of program guidelines.

The delivery of successful projects under the Program will begin shortly with most projects to be completed by June 2022.