Push for better mobile coverage in Mildura, Mallee and Murray regions

Poor mobile coverage is not only annoying, it’s unsafe, regional Victorians have said amid a new push for better service.

Constant dead spots where mobile phones drop out are giving regional Victorians “the s**ts”.

Maintenance man Ron Collins, who works in rural Victoria, said the town of Manangatang was surrounded by black spots.

“I travel to Swan Hill quite regularly, and there is a big dead spot between Manangatang and Piangil, and Manangatang and Robinvale. South of Manag towards Sealake you lose it completely as well,” he said.

“It’s alright in town but once your a ways it just drops and out and doesn’t come back until you get close to a town. It just give me the s**ts basically.”

The frustrations have driven Federal Mallee MP Anne Webster to demand the government ensure a stable universal service guarantee for mobile phone coverage for all Australians.

Federal Mallee MP Dr Anne Webster wants to improve mobile phone coverage. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“The guarantee isn’t working and needs reform - this was highlighted in the Regional Telecommunications Review handed down just before the federal election, yet the new government has made no commitment to implementing its recommendations,” Dr Webster said.

“There now needs to be regulatory guidelines to make sure mobile base stations can be used by all Australians, no matter what telco they are with.”

The universal service guarantee, signed into law in 1999, was designed to ensure everyone in Australia had landline and pay phone coverage.

Telstra holds the contract for the guarantee, however, it has not been updated to reflect the change in technology as pay phones are becoming sparse and mobile phones are more common than landlines.

President of the Victorian Farmers Federation Emma Germano said having a good phone coverage was essential for farmers.

“Having access to both reliable and affordable phone and internet coverage in 2023 is a necessity, not a luxury,” she said.

“Our modern agriculture industry is moving with the times and digitising and we can’t afford to be left behind.”

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said rural connections were a priority for the federal government. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is currently investigating rural and regional mobile phone coverage and the feasibility of roaming in emergencies.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said rural connections were of the “highest priority” and the government was committed to improving connectivity throughout the regions. “Improving regional connectivity is one of the highest priorities of the Albanese Government,” she said.

“That’s why, in the October Budget, we committed to one of the most significant regional telecommunications investment packages since the establishment of the National Broadband Network over a decade ago, with over $2.2bn in regional telecommunications over the next five years.”