Can anyone hear me?

Monday, 02 November 2009 08:58

This Boigu resident is using a mobile ‘phone antenna to try to get reception for his ‘phone. He is pictured at the old Boigu cement batching plant.

This photograph was sent to the Torres News by Merauke Five survivor Hubert Hofer, who says reception is very poor, not only on Boigu but also at Warraber, Poruma. Ugar and Mabuiag.

“There is great reception at Masig and Iama.
“It would be interesting to hear why that is. Is it a technical problem or simply not providing the facilities due to cost?
“You never know it might be a reasonable explanation for people to accept. but just not getting the service without any explanation is the frustrating part.
“What would be the cost to put up boosters?”
Mr Wally Donaldson, Area General Manager, Telstra Country Wide Far North Queensland, says: “Providing communications across the Torres Strait Islands is extremely expensive and difficult.
“And the usage (of ‘phones) on those islands really makes a lot of mobile base stations economically non-viable.
“However, Telstra over the years has worked with and will continue to work with community groups in order to find sources of funding which can improve the service.”
Mr Donaldson says there are Telstra bases on Saibai, Masig and Iama as well as one on the Eastern Islands.
“We did those a few years ago under a state government funding project.
“ To deploy more base stations to those areas with small populations is extremely expensive, but Telstra is always keen to look for more funding options which will allow us to build more,” Mr Donaldson said.