Government told of 6000 mobile black spots

The public has nominated some 6000 mobile phone black spots for fixing under a federal government initiative.

Yet the $100 million allocated to improving coverage in regional areas will only pay for between 250 and 300 new phone towers.

Single towers will cover multiple black spots, said Paul Fletcher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications.

"Although 6000 locations have been nominated, this does not mean that there are 6000 locations where a new base station in required," he said on Tuesday.

He added that about eight in every 10 spots are partially within the reception area of an existing tower.

The program is intended to boost mobile coverage in country Australia, especially along major transport routes and in areas prone to natural disasters.

Australian telcos will use the 6000 black spots, reported in the nine months to August, to nominate locations for new or enhanced base stations.

The government will decide on successful nominations by next April, with the first new towers to roll out in the second half of 2015.