Mobile networks could be classified as critical infrastructure in natural disasters

Telecommunication providers including Telstra and Optus will lobby the government to classify mobile network infrastructure like hospitals in the event of a bushfire, flood or storm, essentially requiring power companies to ensure networks maintain power at all times.

Telstra infrastructure operations executive Brownwyn Clere told the FutureAg Expo at Melbourne the provider met with its 16 energy providers across Australia to discuss the proposal in December.

"There was a lot of good will in that session around that being the thing to do," Ms Clere said.

"It is also being picked up at a government level and there are a number of conversations in the next couple of weeks, particularly being held at a very senior level."

The meeting will involve senior leaders from Telstra, Optus, the NBN and other smaller providers who will lobby the government to establish a working party to ensure the proposal is investigated.

ACM Agri understands the meeting will also involve Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.

"I'm looking forward to the support the government can provide us," Ms Clere said.

The comments were made during the Emergency Ready: Keeping Farms Connected When It Counts panel at the FutureAg Expo in Melbourne on Wednesday, August 6.

Ms Clere said the agreement - if the government supported the concept - would require power companies in the event of a grid outage to prioritise having mobile phone networks restored.

In many rural and regional areas, when power outages occur, mobile phone networks are switched to battery back-up power supplies.

The process can give communities reduced access to telecommunications services and may only last a few hours before the network is unavailable altogether.

Ms Clere said it meant some people might be forced to travel to neighbouring towns in the event they needed to gain internet or mobile phone access.

"Obviously triple zero works for all carriers so if one carrier's system is out, then people can use the system of another carrier, but again it is about that risk management individually," Ms Clere said.

"You have to look at your own circumstances, understand do you have a fully charged phone, if you have a fully charged battery, and do you need to think about more satellite-type coverage as well."