Thousands Spent on Signal Boosters Fail to Fix Rural Mobile Coverage in South Australia
Marten and Sarah Jak, residents of Waitpinga in South Australia, report zero mobile phone coverage despite living just 10 kilometers from Victor Harbor. Over several years, the couple has invested thousands of dollars in purchasing and manufacturing various antennas and signal boosters, yet they remain unable to reliably make calls or access emergency services. Their concerns were heightened by a recent major fire in nearby Deep Creek National Park, highlighting the safety risks associated with connectivity black spots. While alternatives like Starlink exist, the Jaks cite prohibitive costs and dependency on power as significant drawbacks. Telstra attributes the poor reception to the region's rugged topography, including steep hills and valleys that block signals from nearby base stations. Although the provider stated the area is on an upgrade list, no immediate improvements are expected. Independent member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, is advocating for federal funding through the mobile black spot program to address these critical connectivity gaps, emphasizing the necessity of reliable mobile service for safety and daily life in regional communities.
Wire timeline
Thousands Spent on Signal Boosters Fail to Fix Rural Mobile Coverage in South Australia
Marten and Sarah Jak, residents of Waitpinga in South Australia, report zero mobile phone coverage despite living just 10 kilometers from Victor Harbor. Over several years, the couple has invested thousands of dollars in purchasing and manufacturing various antennas and signal boosters, yet they remain unable to reliably make calls or access emergency services. Their concerns were heightened by a recent major fire in nearby Deep Creek National Park, highlighting the safety risks associated with connectivity black spots. While alternatives like Starlink exist, the Jaks cite prohibitive costs and dependency on power as significant drawbacks. Telstra attributes the poor reception to the region's rugged topography, including steep hills and valleys that block signals from nearby base stations. Although the provider stated the area is on an upgrade list, no immediate improvements are expected. Independent member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, is advocating for federal funding through the mobile black spot program to address these critical connectivity gaps, emphasizing the necessity of reliable mobile service for safety and daily life in regional communities.
Just In