Connecting every Australian with high-quality digital infrastructure
Australia's reliance on telecommunications has been growing for many years. As a result, everyday life has changed for most people. Digital tools and services have reached critical mass and are now essential for this country's economic growth and Australians' full participation in modern society.
Each year, billions of dollars are invested to continually improve networks and secure Australia's digital leadership. Despite this investment, many of Australia's most vulnerable groups are failing to enjoy the benefits of digital connection because of barriers to affordability, accessibility and the ability to use digital services.
The Australian Digital Inclusion Association has identified several groups: Older Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, lower-income families and people with incomplete basic education.
As technologies keep advancing, and interactions become digital by default, these groups risk being further marginalised. If the Australian Government embraces digital inclusion as a key national strategic priority, it will ensure no Australian is left behind.
The National Broadband Network (NBN) has kept Australia connected during the pandemic. The NBN strategy and ongoing future investment are crucial to building the digital capability that Australia needs to take advantage of accelerating digitalisation.
" Digital tools and services have reached critical mass and are now essential for this country's economic growth and Australians' full participation in modern society. "
There has been extensive investment in building and improving terrestrial mobile coverage in regional, remote and rural Australia. However, given the size of landmass, low-density networks and diverse spread of communities in Australia, there are inevitable economic and practical challenges to providing universal mobile coverage.
A practical strategy is needed that brings focused, sustainable government investment to key objectives, including building community safety, growing remote communities' connectivity and stimulating key regional economic sectors.
| 7.2 Recommendation Give Australians improved telecommunications coverage, quality and access by taking strategic actions to improve digital inclusion, regional telecommunications and broadband quality levels. Proposed sponsor: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications | ||||
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| 7.2.1 Connect regional Australians by improving the coverage, quality and reliability of telecommunications, through continued government investment in infrastructure outcomes that are not commercially viable in Rural Communities and Remote Areas. Proposed lead: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications | |||
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| Empower customers by stipulating clear performance levels for data speed, reliability and key processes such as installation or repair times in the Statutory Infrastructure Provider Regime. The Regime should clarify and publish basic performance levels and ensure these evolve to include specific targets for repair times and service uptime. Proposed lead: Australian Communications and Media Authority | |||
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| Deliver increased mobile coverage to regional communities under a future approach to funding for mobile telephony in regional areas, to succeed the Mobile Black Spot Program after its sixth round. Proposed lead: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications | |||
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| 7.2.2 Reduce the digital divide in Australian society by launching a national digital inclusion strategy and a rolling national study on key affected groups Proposed lead: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications | |||
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| Close the gap in digital inclusion with a national strategy and roadmap for digital access, affordability, ability and accessibility. A national program should drive a clear strategy for inclusion, set objectives, run studies, develop roadmaps and allocate funding to initiatives. Proposed lead: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications | |||
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| 7.2.3 Ensure the NBN delivers against the customer needs set out in its Statement of Expectations by continuing to invest in upgrade pathways and ensuring basic performance standards are met for all end users. Proposed lead: NBN Co | |||
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| Deliver improved coverage, speed and reliability to all Australian broadband customers under a published Minimum NBN Customer Charter that obliges all companies involved in delivering a connection (Statutory Infrastructure Providers and retail service providers) to meet a basic guarantee for the end-to-end customer experience. The Charter should include speed (relative to plan selected), reliability, installation times, repair times and rebates. Proposed lead: NBN Co Supported by: Australian Communications and Media Authority | |||
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| Ensure NBN end users with slower-performing lines are covered by a prioritised upgrade plan for fixed-line and fixed wireless services, under a published suburb-level plan to upgrade copper lines that are unable to consistently deliver 25 Mbps upstream and 5 Mbps downstream speeds. Proposed lead: NBN Co Supported by: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications | |||
Measuring progress
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| OECD business use OECD global ranking in business use of broadband | ||
| Economic | Target: Top 10 | Timeframe: |
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| National land transport coverage Percentage coverage of the National Land Transport Network | ||
| Economic | Target: 100% | Timeframe: |
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| Mobile economic coverage Percentage mobile coverage of terrestrial economic activity | ||
| Economic | Target: 99% | Timeframe: |
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| Digital inclusion Percentage reduction in the number of Australians not actively online | ||
| Social | Target: 50% (1.25M) | Timeframe: |
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