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Telstra bids to win over the bush
22 May 2002
Announcements yesterday on improvements to regional communications by the Federal Minister, Richard Alston, will tie in with Telstra announcements today on the marketing of Iridium satellite phones. Senator Alston said that the Government will pay half the cost of satellite mobile phones for people in remote areas: eligible subscribers will get up to $1,100 to help to buy the $2,000 phones if they can prove that they live in an area without normal mobile or CDMA service. The satellite phone subsidies are expected to assist at least 1,500 people and are the latest response to the Besley inquiry, which found that telecommunications services to the bush are inadequate.
Senator also released a “progress report” on the Government’s $167 million response package to the Besley inquiry: a new roll-out of mobile phone towers in remote areas is under way and will be completed by December 2003; recipients of a $52.2 million National Communications Fund will be announced next month; site visits have been conducted to remote Aboriginal communities for planned improvements to payphone services.
Telstra will unveil a range of products for regional Australians today at the National Farmers’ Federation conference, being held in Carnarvon, WA.
The Age, 22/05/2002, page 2.
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