Swoop wins grant for $3.4m WA fixed wireless project

Swoop has secured government funding for its planned $3.4 million project to deliver improved broadband services to the regional communities of Harvey, Brunswick and Busselton in south-west WA.

The program to expand Swoop’s wireless broadband infrastructure in the region, where it operates under the brand NodeOne, will receive funding from both the federal and WA governments as part of the Regional Connectivity Program Round 2.

Swoop plans to build a number of towers to cover 850 km² in the Harvey region to connect to its existing network near Bunbury and the major data centres in Perth, as well as new towers in the Busselton Region to cover 500 km².

The upgrade is expected to pass up to 8400 businesses and residents, allowing them to access wireless broadband services with speeds of up to 150 Mbps. The upgrade is also aimed at filling any mobile black spots in the areas.

Swoop CEO Alex West said the project is in line with the company’s ongoing commitment to improve connectivity and opportunities in regional Australia.

“Swoop’s goal is to expand our high-performing network to regional Australia to create stronger economic and growth opportunities for local economies,” he said.

“Improvement in infrastructure and advancements in agricultural technology will see businesses more able to increase their trade from small, local trading to a widespread, large-scale business on a more advanced industrial platform, with increased opportunity to export their products and to compete with other developing businesses.”

The $140 million Regional Connectivity Program Round 2 is aimed at improving telecom infrastructure in regional and remote areas of the country.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Olivier Le Moal