❓ The Minister for Regional Development addresses digital connectivity improvements in Gascoyne Junction, highlighting federal responsibility and potential solutions while referencing federal government initiatives. No direct incentives for satellite networks like Starlink are mentioned, but future improvements are alluded to.
AnsweredQoN 715Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Minister please identify projects planned or underway to improve digital connectivity in Gascoyne Junction? (2) In the absence of reliable fixed and cellular/mobile network access, does the Government provide incentives for regional residents to connect to satellite networks, such as Starlink?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 June 2022
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development
Response time
9 days
(1) As the Member would be aware, telecommunications are a Federal Government responsibility. We discussed 4G for Gascoyne Junction with Telstra in Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP) Rounds 5 and 5A, however this is an old 3G Regional Mobile Communications Project site that requires an expensive fibre and radio equipment upgrade to support the capacity increase. Given that Commonwealth MBSP co-contributions were capped at $500,000, the upgrade for Gascoyne Junction could not be accommodated under the existing rules of the MBSP.
Telstra has subsequently developed a new 4G satellite-connected macrocell that could potentially be deployed without upgrading the fibre route. We are working on ways we could use this in a timely way to improve connectivity for the Junction, including using new technologies.
(2) I note major election commitments from the Federal Labor Government which should improve digital connectivity in regional WA. These include:
- Expanding full fibre NBN access to 1.5 million more premises, including 660,000 premises in regional Australia
- Increasing NBN satellite data allowances to 90 Gigabytes per month, and unmetre Sky Muster usage between midnight and 4 pm
- $480 million to provide all 755,000 fixed wireless users with access to speeds of between 100 and 250 megabits per second
- $400 million to establish multi-carrier mobile coverage on roads where there are coverage gaps, and in regional communities, including $20 million for an independent national audit of mobile coverage to guide future investment
- $200 million for place-based regional telecommunications projects, such as mobile or targeted fibre, to meet community needs
- $30 million to enable more farmers to extend connectivity for smart machinery and sensor technology
- Additional funding of $6 million for the Regional Tech Hub to serve as a trusted intermediary and source of free and independent advice.
Telstra has subsequently developed a new 4G satellite-connected macrocell that could potentially be deployed without upgrading the fibre route. We are working on ways we could use this in a timely way to improve connectivity for the Junction, including using new technologies.
(2) I note major election commitments from the Federal Labor Government which should improve digital connectivity in regional WA. These include:
- Expanding full fibre NBN access to 1.5 million more premises, including 660,000 premises in regional Australia
- Increasing NBN satellite data allowances to 90 Gigabytes per month, and unmetre Sky Muster usage between midnight and 4 pm
- $480 million to provide all 755,000 fixed wireless users with access to speeds of between 100 and 250 megabits per second
- $400 million to establish multi-carrier mobile coverage on roads where there are coverage gaps, and in regional communities, including $20 million for an independent national audit of mobile coverage to guide future investment
- $200 million for place-based regional telecommunications projects, such as mobile or targeted fibre, to meet community needs
- $30 million to enable more farmers to extend connectivity for smart machinery and sensor technology
- Additional funding of $6 million for the Regional Tech Hub to serve as a trusted intermediary and source of free and independent advice.
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