Travelling the Great Central Road - Phone/Internet access?

hi greg
thanks for the map it was very helpful.

We did the GCR in 2017, very little coverage, mostly in the communities. Once out on the road, no coverage at all.

Macca.

Recall that we got service, after exiting Sandy Blight Track, at Docker River, Yulara & Erldunda.

If mobile service is really important to you, I'd suggest you pull over when passing Docker River, as the phone range doesn't last long @ 100kmh. After Warburton, don't think there's any more coverage until Laverton?

Bob

Yes, for sure re Docker etc Bob, pretty much marries up with the Telstra map Greg posted the link to.
The external antenna would make a bit difference from the look of the map detail.

Ilkurlka on the Anne Beadell.. another Optus only spot in a remote location. I've taken to carrying both an Optus and Telstra mobile phone now.

Gem Tree, on Plenty Highway, has Optus WiFi available.

Bob

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Optus has embarked on a program of filling-in some of Telstra's holes.
Picking-up-the-crumbs so to speak.

The apartheid in our mobile phone system is getting even worse.

I have heard that a number of Indigenous Communities have rejected Optus towers as their neighbouring commuities have Telstra infrastructure. Thus if they visit such communities their phone would not work. It is about time that when outside major population centres all mobile phones should have access regardless of the carrier.

"It is about time that when outside major population centres all mobile phones should have access regardless of the carrier."

Robert, totally agree. In this day and age communication is an essential service and the government of the day should be taking the lead on this and not leaving it to the various carriers.

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

In that case one carrier would providing a free service to subscribers of the other provider. Maybe carry a dual Sim phone with an Telstra & Optus SIM cards?

Shaker: "In that case one carrier would providing a free service to subscribers of the other provider."

Vodafone had submitted a proposal to ACCC last year for this free regional roaming "in the interests of the public" which sounds all very generous. It was a thinly veiled attempt to get something for nothing (spend b-all $$ after Telstra and Optus had spent billions on regional infrastructure). Their proposal was knocked back. Among other things it would have provided a significant disincentive to any network operator to do ANY new installations in those areas, and that would not serve the interests of any users.

Well...

Perhaps that is why some services, particularly "essential" services, like communication, should never find their way into private hands - governments have embarked on a program of selling off public assets, to raise money, and under the guise that private enterprise will run it more efficiently.

I'm not sure this approach has served the "average Aussie punter" that well at all...

Sale proceeds, which usually is under market value, is often "squandered" by those in charge of the public purse, and private enterprise has shareholder interests, not the "average Aussie punter" interest at the fore.

At least that is my two bob's worth.

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

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Baz, I totally agree with you. That is my favourite 'hobby-horse'.

The three security essentials are power, transport and communications.

But wait until this country is threatened by conflict and they will all be taken back into government control..... only to be handed back again at conflict end!

Interesting discussion here. I agree with Allan and Baz but there should not be this issue of connectivity if your carrier does not have a tower in a particular area. Of course I am referring to OUTBACK locations not major cities. If this was possible I would suggest that the calls on the opposing network be at a premium rate and not part of your standard Included Calls contract. I do appreciate that Vodaphone wanted something like this and of course with their CITY only coverage it is to be expected. The other alternative is of course dual sim phones and the concept of electronic sim cards. I believe that the Aus carriers are not too keen on allowing electronic sim cards although I believe new iPhones have this capability. I have used this with my iPad in Canada to obtain a GiGSky internet plan. It worked extremely well and required only a software selection of which sim card to use, Telstra, which was physically installed or GiGSky which was electronic.
As an aside when travelling overseas I use a Telstra Roaming Plan. It is expensive, $10 per day, but you never have to worry about network issues. The phone will connect to any available carrier although I sense that they seem to rotate carriers if two or more are available. Regardless in both UK and Canada my Telstra phone can always connect. Thus, why not here in some form?

hi baz
your advise if spot on mate 'thanks'