1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Mobile coverage is being expanded across Kakkadoo National Park and 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: he's part of a seven point five million dollar upgrade 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: and it's jointly funded by Telstra and the federal and 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: Northern Territory governments. Now in the studio to tell us 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: a little bit more. It is a voice that you'll 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: certainly recognize because he's across the airwaves right here on 7 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: Mix one oh four nine on the weekends. 8 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 2: It is Nick Danks. Good morning, dank sew and Katie, 9 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 2: how are you very good? 10 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: And in your day job you are, of course the 11 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: Northern Territory General Manager for Telstra Ye and obviously in 12 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: hearing that capacity this morning, mate, tell us a little 13 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: bit more about why this mobile coverage is being bolstered 14 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: in kakado. 15 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 3: It's one of the things we've been working with, as 16 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 3: you said, with Australian Government, Anti government and Parks and 17 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 3: Wildlife and the tritionladus on that cross National Park from 18 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,959 Speaker 3: long time now and it's great to see that we've 19 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 3: eventually got across the line and we're about to start 20 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 3: the builds. So it includes new coverage around Jim Jim 21 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 3: Falls along the highway and improving coverage at all the 22 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: popular campgrounds, so it's going to benefit the tourist lane, 23 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 3: businesses and residents. So putting in about twelve mobile satellite 24 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 3: small cells in those overnight or daytime camp sites, and 25 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 3: there's a list of those obviously right around Jabru and 26 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 3: if people think about the twelve most popular, that's probably 27 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 3: where it's going to be. 28 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 4: We're going to put a full what we call a. 29 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 3: Macro tower, what everyone recognizes a full mobile tower along 30 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 3: the Unum Highway that gives more coverage on the highway 31 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 3: there and also at Jim Jim Falls, and we're going 32 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 3: to fully upgrade the base station to Clinda as well 33 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,759 Speaker 3: to put four G and full coverage into that tower. 34 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 3: It's a really old tower. There's people who have stayed 35 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 3: there know that it's a three G tower and needed updating, 36 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 3: so we're going to do that at the same time 37 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 3: as well. 38 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 2: How long do you anticipate that all this work is 39 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: going to. 40 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 4: Take a couple of years. 41 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 3: We'll start off with the big ones first, so we've 42 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 3: already started on the Clinton Cowinda Lodge one that's what 43 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 3: we wanted to get done, and the other small cells 44 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 3: they take about a week to do so it's really 45 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 3: clearance and getting them installed in there to build Those 46 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 3: at big towers take obviously longer to build, but we're 47 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 3: expecting to aim to have it done in the next 48 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 3: eighty months two years. 49 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: And you touched on this just before we know and 50 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: you and I I've interviewed you before about different sites 51 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: where in Telstra tower is going up that people haven't liked, 52 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: and how much work has had to go into making 53 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: sure that you're getting all the sites in the right 54 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: places with these fron. 55 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, lot's work with Traditional Owners, Parks and Wildlife NTG 56 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 3: and federal government. We've had guys out there on the 57 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 3: field looking at sites, looking at locations, making sure that 58 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 3: where we put these things, and the small cells that 59 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,679 Speaker 3: are going into the camp sites about the size of 60 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 3: a palette. The satellite dish at a nine meter poles, 61 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 3: so they're not a really big footprint product. So we've 62 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 3: found places to put those. I don't know if anyone's 63 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 3: been down to say, Stanley Chasm, there's one there behind 64 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 3: the bathroom lock there that we've put into there. It's 65 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: that sort of place we try to put it where 66 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 3: it's out of the road and it won't interfere with 67 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 3: anybody there. But it will give people the ability to 68 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 3: FaceTime and all those things. 69 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: How big a difference do you reckon it's going to 70 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,839 Speaker 1: make not only for people that are maybe based out 71 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: that way business wise, but then also when you talk 72 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 1: about tourism and just having that coverage. 73 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 3: I think it's one of the things that people us 74 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 3: and expect now when they get coverage. I mean eighteen 75 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 3: months ago, two years ago, we did the high all 76 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 3: the roadhouses along the highway and you've only got to 77 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 3: talk to the roadhouse owners along the highway. 78 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 4: How much difference it's made of those guys that people stop. 79 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 3: There now overnight and you I drive that road fairly 80 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,399 Speaker 3: regularly and you can see a lot of people stay there. 81 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: We've just done Heartbreak Hotel in the last couple of 82 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 3: weeks as well, and same thing there that their businesses 83 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 3: is going to benefit from having that, not just from tourism, 84 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 3: but also things for fuel monitoring and all sorts of 85 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 3: other stuff they can do with the network. 86 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: What about them in in an emergency? You know, like 87 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: I know that these there are still. 88 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:27,640 Speaker 2: Black spots, aren't they? Yes? 89 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, so in an emergency, I mean it's it's going 90 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: to still though, provide plenty more coverage, I would think 91 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: than what we've previously had. 92 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 4: Absolutely. 93 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, now tell me that there is work. 94 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: There is some other work underway in East darnham Land 95 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: and a couple of different regions too, isn't there. 96 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, we've been talking about the East anham Land one 97 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 3: now for a couple of years and I can tell 98 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 3: you that the full up fiber upgrade, so as I've 99 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 3: been tagging it, we're turning it from a standard road 100 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 3: into a highway, so fully fire upgrade that will go 101 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 3: from Darwin and nullen Boy, which we'll go through Nunamar, 102 00:03:55,640 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 3: Jabaru Owen, Pelly Maningreda ramaguinea Emu Springs Gap, a Bullman, Bullman, 103 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 3: Urkala and Nullaboy, so right across there and all those 104 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 3: little stops in between that they haven't mentioned. That'll be 105 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 3: completed in the next couple of weeks, so very very shortly, 106 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 3: So those all that build will be done and then 107 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 3: we'll start on the islands. As I've keep so we 108 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 3: build the road and then we can build the bridges. 109 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,799 Speaker 3: So nigelang Mill and give me and Galawinka we fully 110 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 3: funded and they'll be built in the next fwour months 111 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 3: and Warry we I'm just finalizing the funding to build 112 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 3: that at the same time. 113 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: And so what have they previously had, like what kind 114 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: of coverage have they previously had. 115 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 3: It's been four GeV has been very very slow standard 116 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 3: four G coverage. It hasn't been what we expect in 117 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 3: DAR and CBD or any of that sort of stuff. 118 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 3: So what they'll get down with this new fiber upgrade 119 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 3: is they'll get full speed that we've got in the city. 120 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: Now, I've got a question from a listener, so and 121 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: can you please ask Telstra when we'll DAR and be 122 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: getting five G coverage. 123 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 3: If you look at your phone's occasional you'll see five 124 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 3: G prop up, especially if you're around the Duck Pond 125 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 3: or in the city all around there. And we're working 126 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 3: a way through upgrading the towers at a time and 127 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 3: hopefully we'll have an announcement and we'll make sure I 128 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 3: come on and tell everybody when it's fully operational. But 129 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 3: you will see it pop up the one at at 130 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 3: the front there, you'll see that come on occasionally as well. 131 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 4: So we're working on getting it fully launched. 132 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, I have I have noticed it on my phone 133 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: that occasionally it pops up and I think, oh, hang on, we. 134 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: Must be on five G. 135 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 3: No, No, you'll notice the next time you drive passing away. 136 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 3: But there the guys are working on upgrading the towers, 137 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 3: and as a citizen, as we can do an announcement, 138 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 3: we'll make an announcement. But we have got some other 139 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 3: bills going on in the next twelve daily months, most 140 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 3: of them within the next twelve months. We've got a 141 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 3: couple of new towers going how Springs. The customer that 142 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 3: wanted moved, we move that. We've moved that location, so 143 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 3: we've greed with the group there. So Howard Springs, we're 144 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: going to build Acasha Hills, Douglas Daily Middle Point, Edith 145 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 3: River which is down towards heading towards Catherine Zakoli, and 146 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 3: Cahill's Crossing will all be built within the next twelve 147 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 3: months as well. So there's a fair bit of bills. 148 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: And I've got another a couple of other sites or 149 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 3: lots of other sites. I just don't want to announce yet, 150 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 3: but they will be coming. 151 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: Short goodness, sounds like there's plenty of work underway. Absolutely, Danksy, 152 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: I've got a question here from Dave from Dundee. Hi, Katie, 153 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: can you ask dank Cy what's happening to Dundee? The 154 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: coverage out here is not good. 155 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 3: Well, Dundee Beach got upgraded fully just before Christmas, so 156 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 3: the coverage of Dundee Beach and Dundee Downs is fine. 157 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 3: It's Dundee Planes or if it's called the next the 158 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 3: next area, and I've put that again a number of 159 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 3: other sites announcing shortly. I put it up into what 160 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 3: they call the RCP three project. Whether it's been a 161 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 3: proved or not, I don't know. But the customer in 162 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 3: Dundee hasn't got coverage. I'm quite happy to passing my 163 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 3: number of my details and we'll check that out because 164 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 3: it might be a setting on his phone that he 165 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 3: hasn't picking up the new tower. It might be relocating 166 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:30,559 Speaker 3: an area or something. 167 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 4: So all right, Dave. But Dundee's definitely been fixed. 168 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: So that question there from Dave, So we will make 169 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: sure that we get some further detail for you, Dave. 170 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: Don't see anything else going on with tell Stree at 171 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: the moment. Sounds like you've got lots of work to do. Mate. 172 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: You're driving around yourself and checking all these spots. 173 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 3: Yes, the show runs about the start as well, so 174 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 3: we've got to kick off that. And we've got coarse 175 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 3: garma and naziers and all the other stuff that happens 176 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 3: in this six months of the year in the Northern 177 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 3: Territory and it's all going and. 178 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: You're still doing a shift on here on the weekends. 179 00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 4: To play golf. 180 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: Good on you, mate. 181 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: I appreciate you coming in this morning and telling us 182 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: a little bit more about that. 183 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: No doubt we'll talk to you again very soon.