Durras Community Association advise:
The Optus mobile phone antenna is located on the NBN Tower at South Durras. Following our inquiries, Optus have confirmed that they have backup battery power installed on their system which provides 12 hours of power reserve to their antenna during electricity outages.
This means the local Optus mobile phone service will continue to operate for 12 hours after the power goes out at Durras (unless there is a larger area impacted that affects other connecting towers). Optus has also advised that they remotely monitor all their towers and antennas and can see immediately when a local antenna has lost power.
They have a system in place to bring in generators if required for power blackouts longer than 12 hours.
Optus are also supporting our efforts for improved mobile phone coverage to be installed along the Princess Highway between Batemans Bay and Ulladulla, especially the stretch at Benandarah and the Durras Road highway junction.
Many thanks to Optus for having these systems in place to support our community during future emergencies.
