CAT's outback mobile hotspot gets government funding

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p2262-CAT-mobile-hotspot The NT Government will provide $360,000 over four years to install 22 “mobile hotspots” in Central Australia’s outback.
 
The low-tech mobile phone signal amplifiers, developed by the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) in Alice Springs, extend the range of mobile services to about 30km.
 
“This is about twice the existing useable hand held mobile coverage at a fraction of the cost of traditional mobile services,” Minister for Corporate and Information Services Peter Styles said today.
 
“The mobile hotspots are being manufactured by CAT’s Aboriginal workforce which is welcomed by the Territory Government.”
 
CAT manager Metta Young said CAT has installed two mobile hotspots near Hermannsburg to service the road to Finke Gorge National Park.
 
“These pilot hotspots are operating successfully,” she said. “Our technology provides critical mobile access where previously there was none.
 
“Everything is fabricated and assembled in the CAT Enterprise workshop by our Aboriginal staff.
 
“In addition the Aboriginal employees have constructed a purpose built trailer to use for site surveys, testing the signal of the hotspot in the identified rollout locations and ensuring site selection optimizes the signal.
 
“They will be assisting our telecommunications engineer in the site surveys and also undertaking the installation and ongoing maintenance of the hotspots across central Australia.”
 
CAT is an Aboriginal owned not for profit technology innovation company working across remote Australia.
 
 

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