MOBILE phone blackspots in the Wimmera could be significantly reduced with a Telstra plan to build 18 new towers in the region.
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The phone company announced on Thursday it would build 429 new towers throughout Australia as part of the federal government's mobile phone black spot program.
In the Wimmera, there will be a new tower in Hindmarsh Shire, two in Horsham Rural City, four in Northern Grampians Shire, six in West Wimmera Shire and six in Yarriambiack Shire.
New towers:
Hindmarsh - Netherby
Horsham - Kalkee and Kewell
Northern Grampians - Marnoo A, Marnoo B, Wallaloo East and Yorke Plains
West Wimmera - Chetwynd A, Chetwynd B, Coonnewirricoo, Harrow, Kadnook and Wombelano
Yarriambiack - Boolite, Minyip, Patchewollock, Sheep Hills and Wallup
Minyip resident Nicole Hotker hopes a new tower in region will help people who live out of towns or on farms.
"It's not Minyip that's the issue at the moment, it's the surrounding area," she said.
"I lived 10 kilometres north of Minyip and I was getting no service at all."
Mrs Hotker was able to buy two antennas from Telstra about a year ago to boost her service, which helped her.
"That hardware cost $1500, but the people who don't have the hardware still don't have service," she said.
"There are farmers all around the area that are trying to run a business but are struggling with reception."
Harrow farmer Michael Craig said at the moment Harrow only received coverage from Optus.
"I live between Harrow and Balmoral and Balmoral only gets Telstra, not Optus," he said.
"If there was a Telstra tower near Harrow, I would consider changing to the service."
Mr Craig said the community would be pleased to have a new tower.
"Phone service is vital these days," he said.
"On the farm, it is a way to store our data, how we keep records, it is involved in our management systems, and influences what we are doing - it's absolutely critical."
