The Regional Telecommunications Review is an opportunity for people living and working in regional, rural and remote Australia to share their views and experiences using telecommunications services.
Every 3 years a Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee is established to conduct the Review. The Committee’s findings and recommendations help set the government’s approach to regional telecommunications issues and policy during the following years.
WISPAU has formally submitted a response to the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee.
The response from WISPAU provides feedback to the questions for comment posed by the issues paper as part of the review.
The Importance for WISP’s in Regional Australia
Fixed wireless internet service providers (WISPs) play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity in local Australia, particularly in regional and rural areas.
WISP providers offer reliable high-speed internet access by transmitting data via radio signals from a base station to a fixed antenna on the customer’s premises.
This technology is especially significant in Australia due to the vast and often challenging landscape, which can make traditional wired infrastructure expensive and difficult to deploy.
The importance of fixed wireless ISPs in local Australia includes:
Bridging the Digital Divide – Fixed wireless ISPs help bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, ensuring that people in remote locations have access to the same internet speeds and quality as those in cities. In some instances the local WISP is critical to providing connectivity and support to these customers and the regional community.
Cost-Effective Solutions – Implementing wired infrastructure in rural areas can be prohibitively expensive. Fixed wireless solutions provide a more cost-effective alternative, making it feasible to deliver high-speed internet to sparsely populated or difficult-to-reach areas
Rapid Deployment – Compared to laying fiber-optic cables or other wired solutions, fixed wireless networks can be deployed more quickly. This rapid deployment is crucial for responding to the immediate connectivity needs of communities, particularly in areas where infrastructure development has lagged or implementation has stagnated.
Supporting Local Economies – By improving internet access, fixed wireless ISPs enable local businesses to operate more efficiently and compete on a broader scale. Enhanced connectivity supports e-commerce, remote work, and access to global markets, driving economic growth in regional areas. In many instances the WISP’s are local also creating job opportunities and economic benefit and re-investment in the local area.
Enhanced Quality of Life – Reliable internet access is fundamental to modern life, providing access to information, entertainment, social connectivity, and essential services. Fixed wireless ISPs contribute to improving the quality of life for residents in local Australia by ensuring they can fully participate in the digital age and reduce the digital divide.
WISPAU has submitted a response to the issues paper and looks forward to working with all organisations with a goal of a better connected Australia.
To read the full response, please click here.
