First Regional Rail Connectivity Project site to go live this week
Vodafone to deliver increased coverage with Kilmore East site
Vodafone today announced it is ready to switch on its first new mobile site under the Victorian Government’s Regional Rail Connectivity Project (RRCP). The new site is located in Kilmore East, along the line that connects Seymour and Melbourne.
The first site built under the RRCP agreement is expected to light up this month, with the site at Kilmore East scheduled to go live on 30 June. The site will provide additional coverage and capacity to Vodafone customers, and more choice to commuters travelling on the Seymour line.
Vodafone has also started building a new site at Harcourt, on the Bendigo line. This marks the official half-way point for sites to be delivered by Vodafone under the RCCP.
Vodafone’s Chief Technology Officer, Kevin Millroy, said that with regional commuter numbers on the rise, the Victorian Government has taken an ideal approach to increasing network coverage and choice for its constituents.
“Vodafone is thrilled to be a part of the RRCP and commend the approach that the Victorian Government has taken in regards to improving V/Line commuters’ experience,” said Mr Millroy.
“The project perfectly demonstrates the benefits of a strategy that favours infrastructure sharing – leaving behind the all-too-familiar approach of awarding funding to one dominant carrier, and putting the best interests of consumers at the forefront.
“Trips taken by V/Line customers increased by 9.2 per cent in just one year, with patronage on the Seymour line increasing by 7.2 per cent over the last four years¹. The sites being built by Vodafone under the RRCP, including our first live site at Kilmore East, will help boost mobile coverage and capacity for Vodafone’s customers travelling along the Seymour line, while creating opportunities for other carriers to do the same for their customers.”
Vodafone will lead the construction on 11 new mobile sites and install its equipment on an additional 12 sites being built as part of the project. The new sites will help supercharge Vodafone’s mobile network along train lines to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Traralgon, expanding on the significant network investment already made by Vodafone in Victoria.
Victorian Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy Philip Dalidakis said he was proud of the investment his government has made in regional connectivity and proud of the RRCP.
“This project shows just how much can be achieved when government works with all three major telcos – it’s going to give consumer choice and quality mobile coverage to those who travel along our five busiest rail lines.”
“We have continued to work to expand and strengthen Vodafone’s mobile network in Victoria over the years, investing more than $130 million in our network across Victoria, adding more than 150 new sites and upgrading more than 1,000 existing sites between 2015 and 2017,” said Mr Millroy.
“The Victorian Government’s approach for the Regional Rail Project is one that Vodafone believes should be held up as best practice for future co-investment projects. It is a great demonstration of how all three carriers can work together in the best interests of consumers.”
Notes to editors:
¹ V/Line Annual Report 2016-17: https://corporate.vline.com.au/getattachment/acc863ea-7212-48ec-bb58-cce1a7cdda18/Annual-Report-2016-17