For many grey nomads, one of the big downsides to travelling in truly remote country is feeling out of contact when mobile phone coverage becomes decidedly patchy.
Slowly though, things are improving.
For example, new upgrades are well underway that will see visitors to the NT’s Kakadu National Park have access to more reliable mobile phone coverage, and better access to emergency services.
The $7.5 million Connecting Kakadu program began in May 2023 and is delivering improved mobile connectivity across the Park.
This improved coverage at key destinations across Kakadu, including Gunlom campground, will have a positive impact on the safety of tourists and Territorians.
Getting mobile phone coverage in remote areas can be a challenge. {PIC: Cizza
As part of the rollout, Telstra has installed two macro towers at the Jim Jim Ranger Station and along the Arnhem Highway, and four new small cell sites are now live at Gunlom campground, Gungurul, Ikoymarrwa (Mary River Ranger Station) and the Northern Information Bay on the Arnhem Highway.
Three more sites – Burrungkuy, Karnamarr and Maguk – are scheduled to receive mobile coverage later in 2025.
Visitors that have a mobile service with another network provider, will be able to call Triple Zero using the Telstra mobile network should their provider’s network not be available.
The Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, said Kakadu was one of Australia’s most iconic national parks and the Government wanted people to be able to enjoy the region safely.
“It could be to access maps, post a selfie or contact emergency services – these upgrades will allow visitors to better connect while travelling in Kakadu,” he said. “This new connectivity improves the visitor experience and also supports ranger operations and community safety by enabling more reliable communication in more places within the park’s vast and remote terrain.”
NT Minister for Corporate and Digital Development, Joshua Burgoyne, said the upgrades were a big win for locals and visitors alike.
“Whether you’re camping under the stars or exploring Kakadu’s incredible landscape, you should be able to connect and call for help if you need it,” he said. “Investing in reliable mobile coverage in places like Kakadu means investing in our tourism industry and our Territory lifestyle.”
WIN ONE OF THREE SKID ROW TRAILER SKIDS
Grey Nomad members are being given the opportunity to win one of three Skid Row Trailer Skids (each valued at $199). The ingenious Australian-designed device could come to the rescue of nomads who find their trailer or van stuck on sand, mud, or worse.
Manufactured from high-grade polypropylene, the ‘skid’ has been designed for use with or without the jockey wheel to accommodate different conditions in the retrieval process. The device is very compact (77cm x 39cm x 21cm), making it easy for grey nomads to store, and it weighs just 3.8 kilograms.
Click here to find out more.
Generally, I don’t mind losing mobile phone or internet communications, but in an emergency it is reassuring if not vital to have a clear communication available. Fortunately for us it has been a welcome relief or a mild inconvenience when there is no phone coverage. We still have a UHF transceiver as a backup in a real emergency and satellite phones can be hired/bought if really going remote.
We came across to a accident, and we could not get 000.
We enjoy mostly bush camping, phone & TV coverage is a low priority for us.