Once complete, mobile capacity and download speeds will be improved, and there will be smoother streaming and more consistent coverage for Telstra customers. The works are also expected to enhance 4G performance in the area.
But while work is under way, Telstra mobile users may experience temporary service disruptions.
“We know how important mobile connectivity is for Australians, whether you’re in the city or the country,” Telstra regional general manager for Eastern Victoria Jenny Gray said.
“Bringing 5G to the area is a major mobile milestone.
“Some disruption is required while the upgrade is under way, but we’ll only be switching off the site when we need to and will have it back online and working better than ever as quickly as possible.”
The site will be fully offline from Saturday, June 14, to Friday, June 20, and again from Monday, June 23, to Wednesday, June 25, with minor or intermittent interruptions.
Most of the work is scheduled to take place at night to reduce impacts on parking and businesses near Fraser St. However, public access to the Telstra tower will be restricted throughout the upgrade.
Telstra customers will receive text messages in advance to notify them of the works. Landline services, NBN internet and mobile coverage from other providers will not be affected.
During outages, Telstra recommends switching on ‘Wi-Fi Calling’, a free feature available on most smartphones that allows users to make and receive calls over a wi-fi connection.
Local business owners are also encouraged to speak with their banks about connecting EFTPOS machines to wi-fi or NBN to avoid disruptions to transactions.
