Optus switched on 5G at two Moree mobile towers in September, promising faster mobile data speeds and improved network reliability. Photo: AI
Optus says its customers should spend less time sending photos and uploading files following upgrades to two towers in Moree. The towers that mainly serve Moree went live in September 2026 with fifth-generation mobile technology, known as 5G.
They previously ran on 4G, the earlier standard. Optus says the upgrade improves speed, capacity and reliability.
Optus Local General Manager Glenn Hamilton said the upgrade reflected Moree’s regional role in an interview with Moree Online News on 9 October 2026. Moree serves agriculture, local business, education, healthcare and tourism across north-west New South Wales.
“It’s not just residents, it’s farming communities, businesses, schools, and a lot of essential services there,” Mr Hamilton said. He said Optus had identified Moree as an important regional area.
Mr Hamilton said: “When it comes to sending pictures, uploading to social media, streaming content, that’s where 5G really comes into its own.” He said customers should notice faster browsing and file uploads, with the biggest difference in mobile data use.
The company says extra capacity will let more people use the network at once. Optus says customers should notice less congestion during busy periods, such as Christmas shopping or a major local event, and that calls should connect more quickly and provide more consistent service. Mr Hamilton said the work formed part of Optus’ commitment to regional customers.
“They can essentially take their businesses outside,” Mr Hamilton said. He said the upgrade could support businesses’ digital tools, cloud-based services and customer transactions online. Business users could take calls away from the office rather than work from a fixed location, he said.
Optus says Moree is one of more than 100 regional locations across New South Wales upgraded in the past year. The company plans a further 100 upgrades in the state by the end of 2027.
Optus operates more than 6,000 5G sites nationally. Mr Hamilton said the company was on track to complete 2,444 regional upgrades by 2030, two years ahead of its schedule. Customers can check 4G and 5G service at their address using the coverage map on the Optus website.
For the surrounding district, Optus has seven more towers on its roadmap for the next financial year, spanning the Moree Plains up to Mungindi and Garah, both within the Moree Plains Shire. The company also has a new tower planned for the district. Moree’s 5G service is already live. The next stage of district works is still to come.
