Telecommunications

In 2022, nbn Fixed Wireless tower upgrades at Riddells Creek and Gisborne South were completed, enabling up to 775 homes and businesses to connect to high speed, reliable nbn.

The Riddells Creek tower is a co-location arrangement on a Telstra mobile base station and will deliver fixed wireless broadband to up to 575 premises.

The Gisborne South Fixed Wireless tower will service up to 200 premises in its footprint. Fixed wireless is well-suited to supporting these areas, which can be challenging to serve with fixed-line services due to low population densities and challenging topography.

Enhancements to nbn connectivity in parts of Kyneton, Macedon, Mount Macedon and Woodend are also coming as part of nbn’s Fibre Connect program, allowing residents to upgrade to a Fibre to the Premises connection when they order an eligible high speed plan with a participating retailer.

Nbn has also announced a major upgrade to the Fixed Wireless and Satellite network nationally that will benefit many across the Macedon Ranges.

In July 2022, nbn went live with improvements to SkyMuster Plus services with the off-peak period for unmetered data increasing to 16 hours a day up from the previous 6-hour daily window.

Homes and businesses connected to nbn Fixed Wireless across the Macedon Ranges will also see improved Fixed Wireless typical wholesale busy hour speeds. Fixed Wireless network improvements are expected to allow nbn to implement a new measure to indicate the network’s capability to achieve ‘typical wholesale busy period speeds’ of at least 50 Mbps (download) once the upgrades are completed.

You can check your address to find out more about nbn services available at your home or business.

In recent years, Council has worked in partnership with Telstra to facilitate the installation of new telecommunications infrastructure in Pipers Creek and Lancefield/Benloch.

Council is continuing to advocate for investment and support to improve digital connectivity in known mobile and connectivity black spots, including, but not limited to, parts of the townships of:

• Gisborne South
• Kyneton
• Lancefield
• Tylden
• Woodend.

Now more than ever it is critical to deliver improved digital connectivity across our region.

Council’s work in this space is ongoing. Our 2022 Priority Projects Prospectus highlights the need for improved mobile and high-speed broadband infrastructure throughout the shire:

[The project] “Requires support to identify, cost and fund tailored solutions appropriate to communities and our distinctive landscapes throughout the Macedon Ranges. Council continues to work collaboratively with telecommunications providers and other stakeholders to progress digital connectivity improvements, especially in the known blackspot areas.”

You can make calls for free and access free wi-fi at a number of pay phones throughout the shire.

Find a pay phone near you

Information on mobile devices, towers and the relationship to health can be found at:

• Mobile phones and health - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
• Electromagnetic fields and public health: mobile phones - World Health Organisation