Telecom is installing new antennae on its masts on Roys Peninsula in a bid to improve cellphone coverage to Treble Cone skifield, the Matukituki Valley, Glendhu Bay and north of Lake Wanaka.
Telecom has advised there may be a temporary reduction in mobile service this week while the work is being carried out.
The $130,000 upgrade would alter the appearance of the masts slightly but not in a major way, Telecom community relations manager Paul Leslie said yesterday.
The visibility of the masts, when considered alongside other approved and existing development on the peninsula, was a contentious issue during a long-running resource consent case that focused heavily on landscape values.
The landowner and intending house builder, the Matukituki Trust, agreed to a recent Environment Court condition that the masts be removed by 2015.
Mr Leslie said the works would not develop the site further.
"It will look just so ever slightly different," he said.
Mr Leslie said it was still several years before the company had to find a new site.
"If we need to move, we will move and we will find a site when we need to. Leases expire and we have to move. That happens all the time around the country. That is part of daily life ... The objective is to maintain the same level of service when we have to move," Mr Leslie said.
The service may need to be reduced or turned off at certain times this week and Telecom is recommending customers use landlines if they experience any difficulties.
However, once installed, the new directional antennas should give better coverage to outlying areas of the district where cellphone coverage is patchy or does not exist.
The upgrade should improve voice, text and mobile broadband services for XT customers.
