The road from Dubbo to Broken Hill is long and straight, but a new internet trial on the TrainLink bus between the two centres should provide some relief for travellers on their journey. 

Multiple cellular repeaters have been installed on the bus in an effort to combat patchy reception and dead spots along the nine hour journey.

For Telstra, Optus and Vodafone customers the technology should boost mobile signal across the whole trip, while up to 600 MB of free WiFi will also be available for travellers. 

“While this trial is underway tourists will be able to plan ahead and make bookings while on board, families can stay in touch and passengers can catch up on work, news, social media, or enjoy streamed entertainment,” Senator Stephen Lawrence said. 

The signal boosters are a part of a one month trial, after which NSW Trainlink will assess whether the technology might be rolled out on more services across the regional coach network. 

According to Telstra’s coverage map, the journey is rife with areas that have little to no phone reception.

Bus routes across the Western Plains suffer from a similar challenge.

 “Regional and remote communities are sadly often stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide but this exciting trial aims to reduce that divide while delivering a better, more convenient public transport experience in the outback,” said Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison. 

The technology works by retransmitting mobile signals for mobile customers, and using a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in-motion satellite network to provide wireless internet. 

The trial is the result of a collaboration between Transport for NSW, NSW TrainLink and the NSW Telco Authority.