[LINK] Backup power for mobile 'phone towers

[David Boxall]

http://www.rebekhasharkie.com.au/24_hour_mobile_phone_coverage_in_high_risk_bushfire_areas
> With just months to go until the next fire danger season, the Federal 
> Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie wants to bring in a law that would 
> ensure the mobile phones of residents in high bushfire risk areas will 
> work for at least 24 hours if the power goes out.

Time was when the PMG ensured that every exchange had both battery and 
generator backup. The 'phones would work as long as the generators were 
kept fuelled.

These days, there are far more mobile phone towers than exchanges, so I 
guess it isn't reasonable to expect generators at all of them. Locally, 
mobile towers have been known to fail less than five hours after mains 
power is lost. Anecdotally, backup batteries are not being maintained 
(Telstra being Telstra), so the situation will probably get worse if 
they aren't pulled into line.

-- 
David Boxall                    |  I have seen the past
                                 |  And it worked.
http://david.boxall.id.au       |               --TJ Hooker