Service Availability: Optus Brings Mobile Coverage to Karijini National Park

Optus has switched on three satellite small cells in Western Australia’s Karijini National Park bringing mobile coverage to the area for the first time as part of round two of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program.

The new sites are located at Karijini Eco Resort, Karijini Campground and the Karijini Visitor Centre with coverage expected to cover a radius of approximately three-kilometres from each site. Mobile coverage is now available in time for the annual Karijini Experience 2018, with a large number of visitors travelling to the National Park to take part in cultural and culinary events.

Andrew Sheridan, Optus Vice President Regulatory and Public Affairs said, “It’s wonderful to be able to offer visitors to Karijini National Park access to mobile coverage. As one of Western Australia’s most popular tourist sites it’s important that people who visit this beautiful, but remote part of Australia, have the ability to check-in and connect with friends and family back home.”

Optus was awarded 23 satellite small cell sites across Western Australia as part of the Government’s second round Mobile Black Spot Program. A total of $5.7 million has been allocated to Western Australia as part of round two of the Program co-contributed by Federal and State Government and Optus.

“We have already switched on 11 of the 23 round two Mobile Black Spot sites in Western Australia, with the remaining 12 sites due later this year. These new sites will provide residents, businesses and visitors to these locations with increased opportunities to drive commerce and stay connected. They will also bring much needed mobile support to these communities, some of which are extremely remote,” added Mr Sheridan.

The 11 new Optus Mobile Black Spot sites live in Western Australia include El Questro, Emma Gorge, Millstream Homestead, Bell Gorge, Karijini Eco Resort, Karijini Campground, Karijini Visitor Centre, Tjuntjuntjara, Ilkurlka Roadhouse, Home Valley Station and Mt Augustus.

Satellite small cells provide a flexible alternative to a traditional mobile tower, using satellite connectivity and backhaul to deliver mobile coverage to a concentrated local area. The satellite small cell operates like a traditional 3G mobile base station providing people within the area the ability to make calls and text on the go and offers access to mobile data. The three new sites will also enable non-Optus customers visiting the area to make calls to Emergency Services when visiting the park.