Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce made the announcement in Tamworth on Tuesday.

“New mobile base stations will be constructed at Copeton Dam, Fig Tree Hill south of Inverell, Kingstown and Baldersleigh west of Guyra, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses, and residents,” the New England MP said.

Mr Joyce said this was the most significant one-time increase in mobile network coverage to regional and remote Australia delivered by a single public funding program in the history of mobile communications in Australia.

“The Coalition government understands the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia. That is why we are committing an additional $60 million on top of the $160 million already invested in mobile black spots, bringing the Coalition’s total investment to $220 million,” he said.

“We have selected these areas because they have been overlooked by mobile network operators due to commercial factors.

“A re-elected Turnbull-Joyce government will invite mobile network operators to bid for this new funding to provide coverage in the four identified locations.

“Despite being in government for six years, Labor did not spend one dollar on fixing mobile black spots in regional and remote Australia.”

Mr Joyce said mobile phone towers at Drake, Urbenville and White Rock Mountain, west of Glen Innes, named in round one of the program, have already been opened.

Mobile phone towers in Woolomin, Elsmore, Invergowrie, and Hillgrove are expected to be opened by the end of June.