New Zealand farmers report mobile coverage gaps after 3G shutdown

A survey by Federated Farmers involving nearly 650 participants indicates that mobile coverage on New Zealand farms has deteriorated significantly following the 3G network shutdown in March.

The findings reveal that half of the surveyed farms have mobile coverage on less than half of their total land area. Approximately two-thirds of farmers reported that they cannot reliably reach emergency services (111) from most of their property, with 8% stating they cannot contact emergency services from anywhere on their land.

Beyond safety concerns, the transition has imposed financial burdens on the agricultural sector. Farmers have reported spending thousands of dollars to replace essential equipment, such as irrigation controls and cow collars, that relied on 3G connectivity. While many have turned to satellite broadband as a workaround, only 15% of respondents consider satellite-to-mobile to be an adequate substitute for traditional cellular service.