Getting it right in regional Australia

Sparse coverage, slower data speeds, lack of competition, lower reliability and extended repair times are the norm in some regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.

For many years, all levels of government have actively invested in a series of communications infrastructure initiatives to improve regional access and quality.

Under the Mobile Black Spot Program, the Australian Government co-invests with industry to build infrastructure in regional areas where it is not commercially viable for a single telecommunications operator to build a base station. To date, the first five rounds of this program have delivered:

•  more than 925 new base stations that would not otherwise have been built

•  over 160,000 km2 of new and upgraded handheld coverage, including to more than 106,000 premises

•  over 242,000 km2 of new external antenna coverage

•  new mobile coverage for over 8,300 km of major transport routes.47

The Australian Government's 2018 Regional Telecoms Review has led to further action. As a result of the Review48, the Regional Connectivity Program is providing $83 million of targeted investment in place-based telecommunications infrastructure projects.

The response has also included establishment of the Regional Tech Hub to provide independent advice on telecommunications services for people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.

The Australian Government also committed to developing the Indigenous Digital Inclusion Plan. The 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review, now underway, will report on opportunities to improve digital inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Underpinning these actions, the Universal Service Guarantee obliges NBN Co, other Statutory Infrastructure Providers (SIPs) and Telstra to provide broadband and voice services to all Australian homes and businesses.