A Federal Government commitment to expand basic mobile coverage across the nation may help close the connectivity gap if delivered.
On Tuesday the Federal Government announced plans to introduce legislation that would establish a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) - meaning telcos will be obliged to eventually provide access to basic mobile voice and SMS services Australia-wide via low earth orbit satellite technology.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the state's peak farm body had been calling for the expansion of the Universal Service Obligation to include mobile coverage for some time, as rural communities continued to experience deteriorating connectivity.
"People in the bush shouldn't have to be without mobile coverage when they're working on their farms, or travelling on the roads, and so it's our hope that these plans become reality," Mr Martin said.
"No one should be left without coverage, especially working alone or in an emergency, and we need to close the connectivity divide that is hurting the people here in the bush."
If established, a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation would provide up to five million square kilometres of new mobile coverage by 2027, extending mobile service to almost 37,000 kilometres of rural roads.
While news of the commitment had been welcome, Mr Martin warned there was still a long road ahead to ensuring rural Australia had the connectivity it needs.
"We know the 3G shutdown has left many people disconnected or suffering with deteriorating coverage, and it will take both new technology, as well as expansion of existing networks, to fix our mobile coverage in rural areas," Mr Martin said.
"We look forward to seeing how the Federal Government responds to the recommendations of the latest Regional Telecommunications Review - as well as the results of Senate Inquiry into the 3G shutdown, when it's released - so we can close this connectivity gap.
"Announcing reforms and recommendations is one thing, but real action to deliver a change in connectivity for rural and remote Australians will be another."
