Calls are answered

THESE last 10 days I have hit the ground running in my new shadow ministry portfolios and met with Telstra executives in Mallee who were rightly excited about their latest offering for mobile coverage.

As new shadow minister for regional communications, I was very pleased to hear Telstra was about to launch their mobile-to-satellite connectivity system, via Starlink.

At this stage, Telstra customers can only send SMS text messages via the satellite on Samsung Galaxy S25 handsets but the successful trial means there are strong hopes voice calls direct to device will be possible by 2027.

The significance of this development for regional Australians is that satellite coverage is virtually possible anywhere in Australia, wherever you are under the sky.

I am told that Telstra’s new satellite coverage will extend to Apple handsets and ultimately be seamless, at no additional cost to the Telstra customer.

Optus are reaching out to me to talk about their arrangements with Starlink, and TPG are trialling similar satellite connectivity with Lynk Global.

The encouraging message from those developments is that the telcos are falling over themselves to promote their offerings of more reliable signal for regional Australians.

Every carrier should have non-stop, strong connectivity as their basic service, and the telcos’ recent market signals have come very quickly after The Nationals stood firm with the Liberal Party that our Coalition agreement had to feature a universal service obligation for regional Australians.

In short, country people should experience the same level of service that city people receive.

After all, Australians pay the same on their phone plan – whether they get 1 bar of 4G at Swan Hill or a fast 5 bars of 5G at Southbank.

They should get the same service.

Having driven many of the roads in Mallee, it is imperative we have reliable signal whether it’s to keep doing business or talking with loved ones in the car, using the latest productivity apps on the farm or calling for help or emergency services during accidents or disasters.

Connectivity is key to both our productivity and our sense of community.

As I said in my maiden speech in 2019, nobody thrives in isolation.