4G network funded for Norfolk Island

Phone and internet services will be delivered to Norfolk Island, following federal government funding for installation of a 4G network.

The government is committing $3.45 million towards the $4.6 million Futureproofing Telecommunications in Norfolk Island project, where a modern and reliable 4G mobile telecommunication network will replace the obsolete 2G mobile phone network. This support will be provided via the Building Better Regions Fund Infrastructure Projects Stream.

The Norfolk Island Regional Council will provide the remaining $1.15 million towards the initiative.

“This is a fantastic outcome for Norfolk Island. Modern communication infrastructure is an important tool for remote communities and one that is often taken for granted on the mainland. This announcement provides certainty to the community that it will stay connected and have access to the communications needed to prosper,” said John McVeigh, Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government.

“This new and improved network will give the community much better access to online services and business opportunities, and will also make it easier for locals to link to the mainland and the rest of the world, ensuring the island will continue to thrive into the future.”

The project will unlock capacity in areas of health, education, safety, business and tourism without sacrificing the essential characteristics of the island lifestyle, benefiting every community member and visitor to Norfolk Island.

Key design features of this project include:

• extending the network device to cover the black spots with installation of five new base stations;
• upgrading the O3B Antenna and the Satellite Earth Station;
• installation of fit-for-purpose Hotspot Wi-Fi infrastructure; and
• unlocking mobile data capacity on Norfolk Island.
   

Under round two of the Building Better Regions Fund Infrastructure Projects Stream, the government is investing over $200 million in 136 projects with a total project value of $459 million.

This grant builds on the government’s ongoing commitment to Norfolk Island, which includes the additional $38.7 million in funding for services and infrastructure announced in the 2018–19 Federal Budget.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/welcomia

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