Regional Telecommunications Review 2015 Issues Paper
secretariat@rtirc.gov.au
The central Flinders Ranges area does not have mobile phone coverage and has only internet via satellite. With
small communities and isolated families and workers on properties as well as many visitors, both international and
national, in the area this is an appalling situation. Visitors feel unsafe and isolated if they can’t connect as they are
used to and local businesses are getting left behind as technology in urban areas races ahead. We have GRN towers
in the area and we almost receive mobile phone signal from Wilpena and Leigh Creek but it is a case of so close and
yet so far.
It was very disappointing to learn that South Australia received only five Mobile Black Spot Round 1 towers outside of
the APY lands and that none of the five were to be in the Flinders. We would like to see at least one tower installed in
the central Flinders Ranges from Round 2.
Please accept this submission even though it is a few days late.
Q1. Do people in regional Australia believe their reliance on telecommunications differs from
those in urban areas? How does it differ and can you provide examples?
Distance is an obvious difference. People in regional Australia live further from help and resources and family and
neighbours than do people in urban areas. Reliable telecommunication is a necessity not a luxury to overcome
distance. People in remote locations depend on telecommunications for education and training rather than face to
face options.
Q2. For those users already connected to an nbn network service, has the service met your
expectations?
The ISS has failed users in remote locations. Inadequate downloads and speed and basic connectivity is lacking.
Q3. Having regard to the technical solution likely to be used in your area, do you have views
on the adequacy of that solution in terms of meeting needs now and into the future?
We live in hope that the LTSS lives up to all the promises, especially for school students and business needs.
Q4. Irrespective of the adequacy of your local access, are there issues with backhaul or long
distance carriage that impacts on your use of telecommunications services?
Q5. For users living in areas without mobile coverage, what priorities, other than specific locations,
do you consider should be recognised in future efforts to improve coverage?
Places with high tourism visitation should be a priority for safety and business reasons. Hilly locations have more
technical issues so should be a priority to problem solve to get the best coverage possible. Areas outside council
districts should be a priority as they don’t have a body with a funding source to help them.
Q6. What opportunities do the mobile network industry see for extending coverage in regional
Australia and increasing investment in mobile networks?
They should see regional Australia as a new almost untapped market that is eager to ‘get connected’ or get better
connected for business, education and personal use.
Q7. Do you have any views on co-investment approaches that might help to improve the
broadband technology outcome in your area?
If co-investment means we get broadband coverage that can only be a good thing but small regional and rural
communities can’t contribute the sort of dollars that would be needed.
Q8. How might new applications and services that utilise mobile networks for voice and data
transform the way you live and work?
They would open up the world to remote locations, and bring the world to them also. Health, education, business,
standard of living, mental health, connectivity with other people would all benefit remote communities and families
and transform their lives.
Q9. What communications barriers have you experienced in expanding or operating your business
or providing services, such as health or education? Have you been able to overcome these
barriers and if so, how?
We feel we are getting left behind in this world and can’t keep up, having tried and failed. Our aging DRCS phone
system is not compatible with many services taken for granted in cities such as number recognition. The media talks
about how we won’t need credit cards soon because ‘everyone’ can use their mobile phone instead. Well until
‘everyone’ can have mobile phone coverage please don’t take away what little we have. Visitors to the central
Flinders ranges are often appalled, shocked and even feel unsafe when they come here and find they have no mobile
phone coverage. Many leave early because of this so the lack of mobile phone coverage and wireless internet is
definitely affecting our tourism businesses.
Q10. What communication functions (e.g. speed, mobility, reliability, data, etc) would best suit your
needs, noting the limitations of each technology (e.g. mobile, wireless, satellite, fibre)?
Speed, mobility, reliability and data please
Q11. Do we need to continue to guarantee the standard telephone service for all (or only some)
consumers, and if so, to what extent?
Absolutely for all! Without a guaranteed base line standard of a service small isolated communities will be even more
neglected than they are now.
Q12. Are there new or other services, the availability of which should be underpinned by consumer
safeguards?
In this day and age all consumers in Australia should be able to access broadband anywhere in Australia.
Q13. What standards should apply to your services? How might they best be enforced?
A standard that sets the service at a useable and useful level for all and enforced by legislation is what we need as a
minimum.