South coast holidaymakers have been largely free from the communication problems which slowed the region last summer.
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Businesses and visitors have reported better mobile and data services, with the near $2 million investment by Telstra to upgrade its coverage to 4G appearing to keep most content.
Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce president Allan Rutherford said he hadn't had any complaints - including about the usual New Year's Eve rush - and people with coverage issues were likely on other networks or without 4G-compatible devices.
''People who are experiencing problems are Optus customers,''' he said. ''Telstra, no, because of the 4G network.'' The view was not universal however, with clothes retailer Adam Richards continuing to have frustrations with EFTPOS services at his central Batemans Bay outlet.
''Last year it didn't work at all,'' he said.
''This year it does work, it just takes a long time - probably 70 per cent of the time you have to take [the EFTPOS machine] outside.
''Once there's a few people in town - even if it's a normal Saturday - it's bad.''
The owner of Pipi's Boutique said taking one to 1½ minutes to complete an EFTPOS transaction was common, with slow downloads on his laptop whenever he was in Batemans Bay. He reported mobile coverage was much better in Ulladulla, where he owns another store. Canberra public servant Jane Lawrence was one who suffered last summer, after communities including Batemans Bay, Surfside, Moruya, Bega and Narooma all reported mobile and data services collapsing under the weight of increased usage by holidaymakers.
New antennas and upgrades have since been completed at Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Mossy Point, Moruya, Narooma, Merimbula, Bermagui, Tura Beach and Bega.
Ms Lawrence, a Farrer resident, recently arrived to visit her mother in Batemans Bay, and said she and her visiting siblings had not had the same problems this time. ''Last year stood out - in mum's apartment [on major route Beach Road] coverage dropped out, internet dropped out,'' Ms Lawrence said.
Ms Lawrence had no problems making a call on her mobile on the Vodafone network in the city centre, but Vodafone coverage is poor in many parts of Batemans Bay and often useless for making a call on surrounding highways and smaller towns.
Mick Delaney, visiting Batemans Bay from Orange, said he had found coverage had improved during more than a decade of holidays on the coast.