TELSTRA NEEDS TO SORT OUT ITS DODGY PHONE RECEPTION IN LAIDLEY

Laidley, or at least a big portion of Laidley, has a problem that politicians can't fix, that journalists can't fix, and letter writers can't fix. They can only push for action to deal with it.

That problem being Telstra's mobile phone reception. I have only been living in Laidley for around 6 months, so I don't know for how long that this has been a problem, but it's atrocious, especially in the business center of town around Patrick Street.

There is no logical "geographical explanation" as to why you are flat out getting one bar of mobile phone reception in Laidley town itself.

There are a few slight undulations, but Laidley is pretty much as flat as a tac. If Telstra is maintaining and upgrading its own local mobile phone tower infrastructure adequately, there is absolutely no reason why mobile phone users shouldn't consistently be able to get at least the equivalent of 3G reception, as in three bars out of four bars on their phone.

For many Laidley (and Plainland) residents, I have heard enough chatter around town, like overhearing others speaking at Laidley library, to know that however long this has been a problem, that it's not getting better, but if anything, it's getting worse.

Besides being mighty frustrating for many of the district's residents, it certainly is not advantageous or a good thing for Laidley's businesses, especially considering that Patrick Street is the biggest "mobile drop out zone".

Look at this way, what if somebody for example who is living in Gatton or Lowood rang up a business on their mobile phone to enquire about a product or service, before coming to Laidley, but was cut off mid call and mid way through a conversation because Laidley's mobile phone reception is nackered.

They may not be bothered calling back. The pragmatic moral of the story is simple - no matter what political avenues have to be travelled down, Telstra has to fix it.