‘You gotta have a sat phone to get help’: SA’s mobile black spot problem under review

A review into mobile phone black spots in SA is currently in its final week – find out how you can have your say on coverage in your area.

There is less than a week for South Australians living in regional, rural and remote areas who struggle with mobile phone reception to submit their concerns to the federal government.

It comes as the tri-annual Regional Telecommunications Review (RTR) wraps up on Wednesday, with people living in mobile black spots encouraged to have their say, outlining issues they experience with connectivity in their area.

Owner of Greatbatch agencies, a local mechanics and RAA service in Wirrulla on the Eyre Peninsula, Elizabeth Greatbatch said the current connectivity there was “unreliable” and it often left people “in the dark”.

A new telecommunications tower. Picture: Marc Stapelberg

“I know that they were upgrading at Streaky Bay and they’ve been upgrading here, but if you just go down the road a bit, you start to lose mobile service and it’s just hard,” she said.

“We’ve got farmers and businesses here who rely on service to get information and all sorts of stuff like weather reports and orders for their business but if it’s not working, they can’t get all of that.

“We do RAA calls and a lot of the time, you gotta have a sat (satellite) phone with us because in some areas you can’t use your mobile phone, you’ve gotta have a sat phone to get any help.”

SA spans close to 100,000 square kilometres, and presents connectivity issues across much of the state, particularly in remote communities.

The Albanese government is currently spending $1.1 billion on the Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, as part of an investment of more than $2.2 billion in regional communications.

A independent committee tasked with undertaking the review is currently accepting submissions from people living and working in regional, rural and remote communities across the country.

Previous reviews have led to initiatives such as policy initiatives and programs, which include the Mobile Blackspot Program and the National Audit of Mobile Coverage.

Chair of the Regional Telecommunications independent Review, The Hon Alannah MacTiernan. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Committee Chair, Alannah MacTiernan said people living in regional, rural and remote areas relied on quality telecommunication service now more than ever.

“This opportunity comes around only once every three years and we are in the final stretch before the committee delivers its recommendations back to government,” she said.

“People in regional, rural and remote Australia are relying on telecommunications services more than ever before and reliable, high-speed connectivity supports public safety, day-to-day business, social inclusion and access to essential health and education services.

“I would encourage every regional Australian to tell their friends, family, and colleagues about this opportunity and to get their own views in, ahead of the closing date in a few short weeks.”

The committee is currently accepting submission through online, postal and in-person surveys.

Ms MacTiernan and committee members will conduct in-person consultation with locals of Whyalla and Vionne Bay on Kangaroo Island on Friday.