The Allan Labor Government is delivering mobile, broadband and wi-fi infrastructure through the $540 million Connecting Victoria program, with 30 per cent of mobile projects now completed.

Minister for Government Services Gabrielle Williams visited Ararat with Member for Ripon Martha Haylett today, where a Telstra mobile tower has been upgraded to provide 5G access through the Connecting Victoria program.

A further 12 mobile projects are underway in the greater Ararat area, including 7 new mobile towers to provide expanded coverage. More than 1,300 premises will also have access to faster internet in June through Fibre to the Premises upgrades.

Residents and businesses can find out more about Connecting Victoria projects in their area through a new online dashboard. The Labor Government has delivered over 600 connectivity projects including:

• Over 230 mobile towers upgraded from 4G to 5G for faster data and network efficiency

• Over 200 mobile towers in bushfire, flood and storm-prone areas have had battery back-up installed, allowing people in affected communities to stay in touch with loved ones and access information during extreme weather

• Over 100 broadband projects have been completed, benefiting more than 75,000 businesses and homes.

All remaining projects – including more than 300 new mobile towers – will be delivered by 2026, with many set to be completed much sooner.

Since 2015, the Labor Government has been investing in connectivity improvements through more than 1,500 mobile projects and more than 160 broadband projects, with most of these located in regional Victoria.

To find out more, visit the Connecting Victoria dashboard at vic.gov.au/connectingvictoria.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Government Services Gabrielle Williams

"We are delivering more reliable mobile coverage and faster internet across the state – not only for work, study and leisure, but also for accessing information and keeping in touch with loved ones during an emergency.”

“We’ve made great progress with more than 600 connectivity projects already delivered, and many more to come – particularly in regional Victoria.”

Quote attributable to Member for Ripon Martha Haylett

“New and upgraded mobile towers make a huge difference to our rural communities. They make it easier to do business, respond to emergencies, and stay connected with each other.”