Tapanui residents struggling with poor cellphone reception could have a new tower erected near the town in the next 18 months.
Vodafone NZ yesterday confirmed the company had been investigating possible tower sites.
Head of corporate communications Paul Brislen said Vodafone was speaking to land owners, hoping to secure a lease.
Once it obtained a lease it would initiate the consent process.
While Vodafone's initial investigations were "promising", he was anticipating the process could take 18 months.
Captains Bridge Rd farmers Fiona and Nelson Hancox said they had been contacted by Vodafone via email.
Mrs Hancox believed Vodafone had contacted several people around the Tapanui area.
Clutha District Council district inspector Ray Applegarth said no tower resource consent application had been lodged, but he would anticipate no issues with granting one.
