Telecommunications issue in firing line
January 24, 2024
By Rachel Williams
Telstra will upgrade its Bridport base station by the end of March, adding 5G to the area for the first time while also increasing site capacity.
The project to improve data speeds in the area can’t come soon enough, with significant congestion issues reported as an influx of visitors gravitate to the popular tourist hotspot over Summer.
The frustrating situation has led to extremely slow download speeds and phone service challenges – costing businesses in the community.
Bridport Newsagency owner Leonie Stein said it’s always been an issue and anything to improve the situation was good news.
“The worst part is it interrupts our EFTPOS and affects our Tattslotto which is really difficult so an upgrade will be welcome news,” Ms Stein said.
“Quite often when it is out it is out for a couple of hours so that can mean a big loss of income.”
The issue is in the crosshairs of Bass Liberal MHR Bridget Archer.
“Significant mobile blackspot funding under the Coalition Government went some way to addressing the issues but I acknowledge that there is more to be done,” Ms Archer said.
She has written to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland requesting more funding to regional and rural areas.
Ms Archer said she was waiting for a report to be tabled from last year’s inquiry on Co-Investment in Multi-Carrier Regional Mobile Infrastructure, on which she sat as Deputy Chair, which makes 23 improvement recommendations.
Regional General Manager for Telstra in Tasmania, Michael Patterson, said the issue was about network capacity.
“We design and build our networks to suit the normal population of the township, and when demand expands significantly, it impacts data speeds and they slow down,” Mr Patterson said.
Mr Patterson encouraged residents to activate Wi-Fi calling to make and receive mobile calls and access the internet.
He said while many businesses use the Telstra network for their EFTPOS terminals, that network was operated by financial institutions.
Terminals could be connected using fixed line or Wi-Fi/NBN internet connections, he said.
“Retailers should contact their bank for more information and details on how to switch between these methods to have a backup in busy seasonal times,” he said.
North-East Chamber of Commerce President Maria Branch said she would take up the issue at the next meeting.