Southern farmer Harriet Bremner says she worries about owner-operators working alone since the 3G shutdown, because an injured farmer may have no reception to call for help.

She says people working on their own tend to take bigger risks.

“A phone call, as we know, can be a lifesaver, and comms is extremely important for keeping people safe or getting them the treatment that they need,” she says.

Bremner says her team uses radios, but satellite service is rarely available on her farm.

North Island farmer Toby Williams says the government needs to tell the big telcos to speed up reliable satellite calling.

“There are people out there who potentially could be seriously injured or lose their lives,” he says.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.

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