WA Govt boosts mobile coverage at regional surf beaches

The WA Government has announced its plans to boost mobile coverage at dozens of regional surf beaches, having appointed Powertec Telecommunications to upgrade telecommunications infrastructure at popular locations along the coast of Western Australia.

Powertec will deliver vital repeater infrastructure to 35 beaches around the coastline from the Kimberley to Esperance, under round two of the Surf Beaches Mobile Coverage Grants Program. The government has committed $2 million under this round to enhance safety for locals and visitors engaging in activities such as swimming, surfing, camping, fishing and snorkelling.

Under the program’s inaugural round in 2023, grant funding was awarded for the delivery of mobile repeaters to 20 popular surf beaches. This second round is targeting key sites with poor or no mobile coverage which have been identified by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in consultation with Surfing WA, regional development commissions, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and local governments.

“With both rounds combined, a total of 55 regional beaches will benefit from improved mobile connectivity,” said Powertec Project Manager Brodie Tarrant. “Installation work is well underway for Round 1, with Round 2 set to commence in the second half of this year.”

Many of the selected locations are already equipped with Beach Emergency Number (BEN) signs, which include numerical codes that can be quoted to emergency services in order to direct them to the exact location of the sign. The addition of improved mobile coverage will allow for even faster and more effective emergency response.

“The Surf Beaches Mobile Coverage Grants Program is a significant initiative for regional Western Australia, expanding mobile coverage at some of our most remote but popular beach locations,” said Regional Development Minister Don Punch.

“Investing in upgrades to telecommunications infrastructure through this initiative supports our regional communities and helps to keep Western Australians safe at the beach.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Nazareno Iroz