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FROM standing on a special mound of dirt in the backyard, to sitting on the washing machines with phone in hand, stories of mobile coverage woe span the Bendigo region.
As the federal government compiles a map of mobile coverage black spots for its next round of funding, the Bendigo Advertiser asked readers to submit their stories detailing the lengths they go to just to make a call.
Within hours, there were almost 100 responses.
One Facebook user had a novel way of finding reception in Junortoun.
“My old sharehouse in Junortoun had great reception... if you stood on top of the giant post at the driveway entrance,” she wrote.
“I mastered the ninja squat on that post!”
Epsom and Huntly residents were among the most frequent to report problems in suburban Bendigo, describing reception as intermittent and temperamental.
Further out, Sedgwick residents continued to say there was almost zero reception in areas, while Goornong and Heathcote also suffered patchy service.
A Goornong resident said coverage would come and go frequently at her property.
“If I stand literally just inside my front door, I get zero reception,” she wrote on Facebook.
“Go literally one step out said door – full reception. Walk one metre further, no reception.”
For Telstra and Optus, complaints of this nature were complex and there were often steps customers could take to improve their own service, with modern buildings often acting as blocks to mobile coverage.
The telco recommended for customers with inconsistent building coverage to buy a smart antenna.
Telstra area general manager Steve Tinker said varying coverage between 3G and 4G could also improve performance.
“Customers can, if they wish to evaluate the comparative performance capability of their phones, vary their phone network settings to 3G and 4G automatic or select 3G only, and select the setting that provides the best experience level for their specific location,” he said.
Mr Tinker said the amount of reception shown by bars on phones could vary, with the amount shown determined by each handset manufacturer.
Improved coverage in telco’s plans
Telstra says the mobile network in suburban Bendigo is operating “within acceptable guidelines overall”, with a further rollout of 4GX services expected in the coming three years.
New sites have been commissioned at Bendigo North and Epsom to improve coverage in those areas.
Telstra area general manager Steve Tinker said the strength of the current network was sufficient for customers in the Bendigo region.
“Telstra has investigated the situation in the greater Bendigo area and we have found that the mobile network is operating within acceptable performance guidelines overall,” he said.
“With regard to the perceived lack of coverage by some residents, 4G signal strength via bars on phones can be misleading as to the ability to successfully make and run a voice call and/or data session.
“With the new LTE technology capability a single bar of 4G signal will quite easily accommodate a mobile voice call and provide good data speeds.”
Telstra also says it will bring 4GX services to Eaglehawk, Epsom, Bendigo north, west and south, Strathdale, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat and Strathfieldsaye in the next three years.
Axedale can expect 4GX services in the coming months.
Mr Tinker said Telstra listened to the community.
“Telstra is constantly investigating potential opportunities for coverage extension and we do take community feedback into consideration when making these decisions,” he said.
“With customers relying on mobile connectivity more than ever, the introduction of these 4GX services means increased capacity for the local mobile network, giving locals improved and more consistent data speeds.”
The federal government will spend $60 million on fixing black spots across the country in the second round of the program.
In the first round, the electorate of Bendigo received two of the 499 upgrades nationwide, which included a total allocation of $100 million.
The second round of funding will focus on high-risk bushfire areas and areas of zero reception.
Optus says work is under way
Coverage in Bendigo should be improving, Optus says, after the telco completed service upgrades in eight locations in 2015.
Despite frequent service interruptions reported by customers on the Bendigo Advertiser Facebook page, a spokesperson for Optus said their coverage should be extending further.
“Optus is in the final stages of development for the introduction of services in Junortoun. We are also in various stages of planning for new sites in Flora Hill, Maiden Gully South, Ironbark, Quarry Hill and Jackass Flat,” the spokesperson said.
Areas to receive upgrades Optus services in 2015 include Bendigo south, CBD and TAFE, as well as White Hills, Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat, Maiden Gully, Strathfieldsaye and Huntly South.
Engage better on phone towers, MP says
Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters says there needs to be greater co-ordination between all levels of government to ensure phone towers can be constructed where they are needed most.
The Labor member has been contacted more than 50 times in the last week after the federal government extended its deadline for mobile phone black spots.
Ms Chesters said mobile phone towers were often rejected by either councils or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal because engagement with nearby residents was not good enough.
“To support telcos to build more towers, governments need to be more proactive with nearby communities,” she said.
“A lot of the time, the first time people hear about the tower is when it’s before council, so it makes sense for some to be against the idea at the first instance.”