Farmers complain of worse phone coverage months on from 3G network shutdown

Farmers are reporting worse phone coverage months on from the 3G network shutdown, despite assurances from Telstra and Optus that no coverage has been lost.

Phone calls that drop out, missing coverage and too little reception to use essential software.

These are just some of the issues plaguing farmers and regional and remote Australians three months on from the shutdown of the nation’s 3G network.

Better Internet for Regional, Rural and Remote Australia co-founder Kristy Sparrow said mobile coverage has worsened for people even with 4G and 5G handsets since the shutdown of the 3G network late October last year but telecommunications companies were failing to explain why or rectify the problem.

“We’ve heard lots of consumers being told it’s to do with congestion on their tower, not the shutdown. But I don’t really think they’re listening,” she said.

Charlie de Fegely, Dobie. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Charlie de Fegely, who farms at Dobie, south of Ararat, said while he doesn’t have total connectivity across the 2000ha he has under management, connectivity has worsened since October and the situation was made dire during the Grampians fires.

“We were told to evacuate. We had stock ready to be penned should the fire reach a certain point. So we were ringing the neighbours, ‘Is it near you?’, ‘Can you see the front?’ and that wasn’t easy because we couldn’t get through,” he said. “You might have to ring three-to-four times to finish a conversation”.

Cam Conboy, who runs a rural supplies business in the Western District, said where new phone towers had been erected, reception was “fantastic”.

“The frustration is where the old towers are, we’re dropping out where we haven’t dropped out before. It’s a very frustrating situation,” Mr Conboy said.

“The basics of phone calls, let alone using all the technology like agronomy software, you just can’t do. Some days I make 60 phone calls for 20 conversations.”

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Picture: John Appleyard

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Telstra and Optus have committed to ensuring 3G-only areas within their published coverage areas would have equivalent 4G coverage.

“The Albanese Government has been clear with carriers that they must meet their commitment regarding coverage equivalence and to boost the capacity, reliability and data speeds of their 4G and 5G networks following the 3G switchover,” Ms Rowland said.

An Optus spokeswoman said the 3G switch off did not remove any coverage and directed customers should contact them with any issues.

A Telstra spokeswoman said: “We’ve successfully worked with many customers to resolve issues since the 3G shut down and we’ve seen a significant drop in inquiries.”