Telstra's mobile telephone coverage of the Hunter Expressway is set for an upgrade, following representations from the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association.
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The HVWTA has been concerned for some time, and last year representatives met with officials from Telstra in an effort to improve the situation.
Telstra conducted a drive test using a specially-equipped vehicle, and an area generally around Allandale has been identified for an upgrade of infrastructure.
The equipment will be installed at Allandale in the immediate future with works scheduled for completion by June, and another drive test through wine country is also expected to happen soon.
HVWTA chairman George Souris AM said the planned upgrade is excellent news for the businesses in the area and vehicles using the Hunter Expressway, which is set to increase once upgrades on the Golden Highway and New England Highway become a reality.
“Mobile coverage on the Hunter Expressway has not been ideal ever since the road was commissioned in 2014,” Mr Souris said.
“It is affecting the appeal of Hunter Valley wine country for tourism and business when mobile coverage for smart phones and devices is intermittent.
"Hunter Valley wine country is already the number one international wine tourism destination in Australia in terms of bed nights and this is set to grow.
“The Hunter Valley’s immediate proximity to the growing Newcastle Airport, the soon-to-be-upgraded Newcastle cruise ship port, Sydney itself and the international airport, and of course the network of road and rail infrastructure makes it all the more imperative for business, tourists and travellers to have the very best communications on offer.”
Mr Souris thanked Telstra's NSW corporate affairs manager John Hewitt for or his visit and interest in helping the HVWTA achieve improvements in the communications capability of the Hunter Valley.
