"We've been very fortunate that Vodafone have come to the party as well. Having cellphone coverage at Blackhead means that if someone has an issue ranging from an emergency to forgetting their togs, there is an option for quickly contacting the outside world."
The micro cell Sure Signal device projects a mobile hotspot that Vodafone users are able to access within a radius of about 400m from the antennae, giving Vodafone mobile users good coverage on the southern end of Blackhead Beach.
He said Spark customers were able to make 111 calls from the mobile hot spot with compatible Spark cellphones, will automatically connect when in range.
Earlier this month Taylor Broadband brought similar cellphone coverage to Kairakau Beach, also using Taylor infrastructure.
The move came after the public payphone, owned by a community group, stopped working at the end of last year and a replacement could not be sourced.
The community turned to Taylor Broadband, which supplies its internet service.
Taylor Broadband specialises in broadband for isolated communities.
Mr Taylor started the company after a friend of his complained about the lack of internet connectivity in the shadow of Mt Kahuranaki. Mr Taylor gained permission to use the summit for a signal relay from the old Napier Hospital.
His friend's neighbour rang Mr Taylor asking for a similar service and, seven years later, the favour has turned into a company with 50 transmission sites and five employees, specialising in rural broadband.
