Fed: Costello says Telstra to boost mobile coverage on 34 highways

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Fed: Costello says Telstra to boost mobile coverage on 34 highways

Treasurer PETER COSTELLO has announced Telstra has won a $20.4 million government contractto upgrade spot mobile phone coverage on 34 regional highways.

Mr COSTELLO's made the announcement in Morven on his tour of rural Queensland.

Twelve regional highways across Queensland will benefit from the upgrade.

The announcement is part of the government's response to the Telecommunications Service Inquiry.

More than $73 million has been allocated in response to the inquiry to improve mobilephone coverage across regional, rural and remote Australia in more than 200 communities.

Mobile phone coverage is also being improved on more than 9,000 km of national highwaysas part of a $25 million program with Vodafone.

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KEYWORD: MOBILES COSTELLO (CANBERRA)