Of all the critiques of the mobile blackspots that exist in rural Australia, safety is the biggest concern. New technology installed in emergency vehicles could change the stakes. 

Over 1,300 Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW SES vehicles have had mobile Wi-Fi equipment installed, which is said to ensure 4G or satellite communications to overcome mobile blackspot areas. 

“The hub basically turns each fire truck into a modern communications node and also introduces the latest AVL technology that allows Fire and Rescue NSW to deploy the closest fire truck to an emergency,” said Fire and Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner Megan Stiffler. 



It’s an answer to a problem that was identified time and time again in the 2021 Telecommunications Review, which recommended improved emergency and network resilience across vulnerable communities. 

The new technology will allow crews to connect to satellites when there is no land-based 4G or radio connectivity, ensuring connection is never disrupted. 

The vehicles will be able to be used as ‘mobile Wi-Fi hubs’, which will allow for mobile phone and live video streaming for first responders. 

“The technology rollout across the organisation has taken about 12 months to complete. This is the first big step in bringing the hub’s various functions online,” Ms Stiffler said. 

While the installation is a promising start to ensure safety from the first responders’ perspective, there is much to be done for those living in blackspots who find themselves in an emergency situation. 

As NSW Farmers identified through a member survey, safety concerns for farmers who work alone and travel on regional roads were only amplified by a lack of reliable phone or internet connection. 

“Safety is my main concern. If we have an on-farm accident, with no mobile phone/internet service the time it takes to get to an area with service or for someone to find the injured person could be the difference between life/death,” said a NSW Farmers member from Coolah.

The reported noticeable decline in landline quality compounds the issue. 

“In an emergency with no landline, things are not going to be good, I cannot call out and no one can contact me. In recent years, our landline can go out at least 5-6 times a year and when the power goes out as well, it is difficult,” another NSW Farmers member said. 

The technology is now standardised for any new vehicle acquired by Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW SES across the state.