Gary Patterson from Eastbridge Engineering phones home atop Ratamaire hill last Wednesday, after the new Bell South mobile telephone network transmitter - receiver was completed. The tower is the 67th in the country linking customers to the rival cell-phone network. It is a 14.5 tonne, 30 metre lattice tower — a new design to stand up to all sorts of weather as well as carry a range of equipment. As at last week it was fitted with a omnidirectional aerial to get things up and running for the summer holiday. After the break the radio engineers will hook up the more powerful aerial panels — "then she'll really be humming", said Gary. While the groundwork was carried out over about two weeks, the tower itself was constructed in just a few days after erection started, Friday 16 December. The tower provides a link to customers in an area that takes in Waiouru, Ohakune, Raetihi, National Park and, for anyone who doesn't want to completely get away from it all, the southern slopes of Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park.

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 568, 28 December 1994, Page 1

Gary Patterson from Eastbridge Engineering phones home atop Ratamaire hill last Wednesday, after the new Bell South mobile telephone network transmitter - receiver was completed. The tower is the 67th in the country linking customers to the rival cell-phone network. It is a 14.5 tonne, 30 metre lattice tower — a new design to stand up to all sorts of weather as well as carry a range of equipment. As at last week it was fitted with a omnidirectional aerial to get things up and running for the summer holiday. After the break the radio engineers will hook up the more powerful aerial panels — "then she'll really be humming", said Gary. While the groundwork was carried out over about two weeks, the tower itself was constructed in just a few days after erection started, Friday 16 December. The tower provides a link to customers in an area that takes in Waiouru, Ohakune, Raetihi, National Park and, for anyone who doesn't want to completely get away from it all, the southern slopes of Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park.