The Liberal and National Government firmly believe that all Australians deserve access to fast and reliable telecommunications services regardless of where they live.

Their response to the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review, which was tabled in Parliament today, stated that $1.3 billion should be invested to further upgrade telecommunications in regional, rural, remote and peri-urban communities.

Minister for Regional Communications Bridget McKenzie said the Review found that regional Australia is facing a step-change in its reliance on digital connectivity and data.

As such, the Review has helped in providing funding and policy to address the recommendations that will assist regional communities.

“Regional Australia has always been integral to the success of our nation, and it continues to be a key pillar for Australia’s growth and security into the future,” Minister McKenzie said.

“For our regions to reach their true potential, they need to be empowered to flourish economically and socially, and digital connectivity infrastructure is essential in order to realise this ambition.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced the “centrepiece” of the response during his speech, the new $811.8 million initiative Connecting Regional Australia.

Connecting Regional Australia is a large-scale, flexible, multi-year fund that enables strategic investment in digital infrastructure and skills.

It aligns with the Review’s recommendations and the country’s needs by building and expanding the Mobile Black Spot and the Regional Connectivity Programs.

The new initiative will expand upon open access mobile coverage, target-specific and localised needs, enhance resilience and trial emerging technologies.

Aside from these, it will also boost Indigenous connectivity and foster affordability as well as improve community digital awareness in Northern Australia and peri-urban areas.

“A key objective is an estimated 8,000 km of new open-access mobile coverage delivered to transport routes, adjacent homes, businesses and tourist hotspots,” Minister McKenzie said.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the second key part of the response is a grant of $480 million to NBN Co’s $750 million upgrades of its entire fixed wireless network, helping to futureproof regional Australia.

“The upgrade will extend the footprint of each NBN fixed wireless tower so that 120,000 additional premises are able to access fixed wireless services instead of Sky Muster satellite services,” Minister Fletcher said.

“This means more people can be served by NBN fixed wireless; it means higher speed services on the NBN fixed wireless network, and it means higher amounts of data can be used by households and business customers.”

Under the upgrade, NBN will offer new higher-speed services to the fixed wireless network: 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) to all 750,000 premises able to access the new, expanded coverage footprint, and a 250 Mbps service will be available to 85 per cent of premises.

Minister McKenzie said the Liberal and National Government will be taking a more coordinated, strategic approach to regional communications investment.

“This will incorporate wider government and regional priorities and working more closely with all tiers of government and industry, including consultation on guiding principles to this effect,” she said.

“We will ensure telecommunications backs in other Liberal and National Government’s strategic priorities like regionalisation, the digital economy, agriculture, education, health, North Australia, public safety, resilience and disaster management and recovery.”

These measures will lock in the gains of recent years while ensuring regions can reach their potential, including producing more jobs, a better quality of life, and a stronger regional Australia.

Source: Minister for Regional Communications Media Release

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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