$25 million for mobile black spots

The funding, to be distributed over four years, was announced by Regional Development Minister John Barilaro in Uralla today.

Previously, the Commonwealth committed $100m to the same initiative across the country.

Submissions from local government, private businesses and residents had nominated mobile black spot locations.

The successful sites will be announced by the end of June.

Mr Barilaro said the program would improve coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to natural disasters and in unique mobile black spot locations.

He said 130 sites had been identified in this round of funding, following about 1600 submissions to the federal government.

"This is the start of a process and a very good program that I think will be continually funded," Mr Barilaro said.

"We're confident that every part of regional NSW will receive towers as we roll the program out.

"This is the start of a process and a very good program that I think will be continually funded."

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has Copeton Dam at the top of his list of black spots. It has limited service despite being a popular recreational and fishing spot.

"The Copeton tower is the priority because of the huge safety issue of not having mobile coverage, along with areas around Croppa Creek, North Star, Bonshaw, Kingstown and Deepwater.

"There's even a huge gap in coverage between Glen Innes and Inverell and that's on the highway."

Mr Marshall said having mobile reception was vital for business and regional development.

"Telecommunication companies will tell you that they cover 99 per cent of population and that's true but it only represents about 20 per cent of the land mass," he said.

"Mobile reception is essential not just for emergencies but for doing business and developing our regional areas.

"It's a real problem if we try to market an regional area for people to move to and there isn't enough mobile coverage. That's not exactly enticing."