THE Victorian Government is calling on its federal counterparts to boost its investment in telecommunications across the regions.
Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford said its submission to the Federal Regional Telecommunications Review urged the Federal Government to work with the telecommunications industry to ensure regional communities could access multiple mobile providers during emergencies such as bushfires, extreme storms and floods.
The review takes place every three years to examine connectivity and communications services in parts of the country where digital access could often be difficult.
It comes as the Woorinen district prepares to fill a notoriously poor mobile blackspot thanks to State Government funding.
The government invested $3.2 million to partner with Telstra and almond producer Olam Orchards to improve mobile coverage between Wemen and Beverford, including along a 40km stretch of the Murray Valley Highway.
“Especially indoors, sometimes you can’t even get a signal,” Woorinen and District Progress Association treasurer Lyndon Patterson said.
“The phone line would drop out mid-call.
“Especially now that most people are working from home, it’s almost impossible to reach customers, or even connect at all.”
Ms Pulford last week told State Parliament the submission urged the government to boost its investment in telecommunications across regional areas so Australians could stay better connected when they needed it most.
“The need for better telecommunication services has become even more pressing over the past two years as Victoria experienced devastating bushfires and storms, with reliable and affordable telecommunications services proving vital in a crisis,” she said.
“People can always call 000, regardless of which provider they are with.
“If this type of connectivity was extended to other mobile and broadband services during emergencies, people would have access to loved ones and the information they need from whichever network was available.”
In its submission, the ACCC said COVID-19 had “underscored” the importance of communications services in regional communities.
“With the internet of things, smart devices, digital agriculture and on-farm connectivity increasingly becoming enablers of economic growth in agricultural areas, the importance of modern, reliable regional telecommunications services will not diminish,” the submission said.
The ACCC said the regulation of a domestic mobile roaming service would not resolve coverage gaps in regional Australia.
“However, in limited and well-defined circumstances, such as during a natural disaster or an emergency, roaming might provide an important safety measure that would not impact the overall competitive dynamics in the market,” the report said.
“The ACCC would support initiatives by governments or industry to explore the feasibility of mobile roaming during emergencies and natural disasters.”
