A new campaign is working to keep natural areas screen free by maintaining mobile black spots, but experts say the initiative could cause more harm than good. 

A recently announced campaign called the Zero G Network is promoting the protection of the great outdoors from mobile coverage, including Gundabooka National Park south of Bourke, in the hopes of keeping the spaces ‘tech-free sanctuaries’.

What it doesn’t factor in is the needs of people living in those mobile-black spot areas, who are consistently disadvantaged when it comes to business, lifestyle and safety.

It’s a foreign concept given the consistent public demand for better mobile coverage in rural areas, but the Zero G Network claims to help aid in device addiction, conserving spaces where someone can escape their phones. 

Coonamble SES Unit Manager John Lewis said that when it comes to isolated escapes, however, it would be wrong to limit points of safety. 

“The more protection you’ve got, the better. I think it’s really important to get that continuation of spreading mobile service,” Mr Lewis said. 

Ambassador for the Zero G Network and ‘Outback Wrangler’ Matt Wright said that while technology is essential in the modern world, we need time away from our divides to reset. 

“We aren’t always good at doing what’s best for ourselves, and as mobile coverage extends into more remote areas, it won’t be long before every corner of the great outdoors is online, all the time,” Mr Wright said. 

“If we don’t do something about it soon, future generations will never get to experience these areas of Australia as nature intended,” he said. 

While holiday-makers might enjoy their retreat from mobile coverage, those living in more rural and remote areas such as the Western Plains aren’t likely to find the idea so endearing as they continue to struggle through business operations with limited coverage. 

According to key findings from the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review, increased demand for data in rural areas is not being met, and the offerings available to those customers are riddled with reliability issues. 

Regardless, Mr Lewis said that when travelling to isolated areas without coverage, it’s wise to take extra precaution. 

“When you’re going into one of those areas, let people know where you’re going and when you’re expecting to get back…we are in a society that relies so much on mobile phones and we’ve stopped doing those basic things,” Mr Lewis said. 

Mr Lewis also thought the campaign could have the opposite effect it intended. 

“I’d hate to see people stop visiting some of these western areas and remote areas that a lot of these communities rely on just because they don’t have phone service,” Mr Lewis said.