Members of regional Australian communities have told the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review Committee that they are still lacking in serviceable broadband, Wi-Fi and telephone connectivity.

Led by former WA Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan, the committee is scheduled to deliver its report to the Federal Government by the end of the calendar year, which will likely contain recommendations for support for more remote communities especially in Far North Queensland and in the Torres Strait.

Community stakeholders, including representatives of small businesses, industry, community and First Nations groups, and state and local government responded to the committee’s request for public consultation, telling them that they are still experiencing constant outages and feel more engagement from telcos would improve the situation.

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, said the Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia is in motion, with the review also able to inform what services and improvements are needed and where.

“The remoteness of some communities in the tropical north… presents some unique challenges when it comes to connectivity,” she said.

“[There are] projects to boost broadband, Wi-Fi and telephone connectivity in communities like Aurukun, Horn Island, Mornington Island and Wujal Wujal in Cape York. The 226 km of fibre optic cable between Burketown and Normanton [is] creating additional network resiliency for 780,000 Queenslanders.

“We are supporting our farmers and primary producers with rebates worth up to $30,000 to take advantage of state-of-the-art Ag-tech solutions through our On Farm Connectivity Program. More than 24 farmers in the Cairns area have received a total of $234,000 collectively in rebates to date.

“These technologies are assisting farmers to optimise soil quality and nutrient levels, monitor livestock, improve efficiency of water use and streamline farm logistics.

“We are also boosting the resilience of telecommunications infrastructure to help maintain connectivity through natural disasters.”

However, Rowland did acknowledge that 2024 has seen an exponential rise in the “demand for data” making it essential for every Australian to be “well connected regardless of postcode or circumstance”.

She said thousands more of both households and businesses across Queensland are set to benefit from the Government’s increased investment in the National Broadband Network (NBN), to not only work and study but also maintain access to essential healthcare, banking and government services.

“By 2025, more than 970,000 premises in the state will have access to the full fibre footprint. More than 720,000 of these already do,” Rowland said.

“The 162,000 premises on NBN fixed wireless will get speeds of at least 100 megabits per second (Mbps). For customers reliant on SkyMuster, we have introduced uncapped data – another recommendation of the previous Regional Telecommunications Review.

“We have connected more than 3,800 families across Queensland to free home broadband through the School Student Broadband Initiative. Many of the households participating are in the regions.

“We have made it mandatory for telcos to prioritise keeping customers experiencing financial hardship connected. And we’re considering the role of new technologies in the Universal Service Obligation – a longstanding safeguard to ensure reliable voice services to rural and remote consumers.

“Together, these initiatives are designed to help bridge the digital divide and ensure regional Australia is better connected than ever.”