In the beautiful, but dangerous, environments of rural Australia, mobile coverage problems have developed into an urgent election issue. Kirk Whiting, a farmer in the vicinity of Eleven Mile Beach, has personally endured the brunt of sustained mobile disruption for the last ten years. This loss has been devastating to his farming enterprise. Residents are rightfully disheartened by the persistent absence of dependable service. To make matters worse, it poses a severe safety risk, especially for individuals employed in remote areas.
Newly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has put forward an audacious pledge. If re-elected in this fall’s election, he promises to legislate universal SMS and voice coverage throughout the country. The Albanese government appears to be reacting to mounting pressure from their constituents. They are especially alarmed at the “bungled” manner in which the shutdown of the 3G network has been managed, leaving many regional communities without sufficient mobile service.
The Impact of Poor Connectivity
The consequences of poor mobile coverage are far-reaching. On Kirk Whiting’s farm, workers’ safety is compromised as they drive through these black spots in mobile service. Whiting shares, firsthand, the brutal reality of working under such an environment. He’s passionate about the point that during both everyday and emergency times, communication needs to be trustworthy.
“I’d hate to think, if they couldn’t get through to an ambulance, what the result would have been,” – Paul Gaughan, a local paramedic.
Gaughan’s frustration is shared by most everyone in the region. In addition, he points out that in times of emergencies or disasters, emergency responders experience extensive delays as a result of bad cell service. Over the years, this has made it ever more difficult for paramedics to provide timely help.
“It’s quite a mission to retrieve people here,” – Paul Gaughan.
Just last month, tragedy struck when another local farmer died from cardiac arrest on an isolated beach east of Esperance. Luckily, he promptly dialed 911. This underscores the dangerous lack of connectivity today. This tragic incident should serve as a wake-up call of the ultimate peril that can result from inadequate mobile coverage. This is particularly alarming in these beautiful yet remote spots.
Political Responses and Promises
Albanese has been listening to those clamouring about a lack of mobile phone coverage. His commitment to improving it fits into his administration’s larger plan to deliver fairer services, including public transportation, across Australia. His government intends to make universal mobile coverage by 2027 legally binding through legislation. This new program takes a critical step to bridge the divide between urban and rural communities.
MP Melissa McIntosh, whose private member’s bill first established the fund, expressed her support for this move. She stated, “Regional communities deserve the same quality of services as those in the city.” McIntosh pointed out that the poor execution surrounding the 3G network closure has hindered progress in enhancing regional connectivity.
The government’s recent 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review was an opportunity for the government to go in hard, calling for urgent action on improvement of mobile coverage. This comprehensive review highlights how urgent it is to tackle these concerns, especially given how important agriculture is to the Australian economy.
“Farming is here for as long as humans need to eat … governments need to back us and give us the infrastructure we need,” – Kirk Whiting.
As a longtime grocer, Whiting knew firsthand that improving connectivity was all about ensuring real-time communication to keep operations running smoothly. He pointed out that when price notifications are missed, it can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income for farmers.
“If we miss prices, that can be tens of thousands of dollars … real-time connectivity is very important in this day and age,” – Kirk Whiting.
Advancements on the Horizon
As the political landscape changes, so too do opportunities with technology. Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, such as those offered by Starlink, have emerged as viable solutions to improve mobile connectivity in hard-to-reach areas. These innovations hold the potential to fill a significant void left by traditional terrestrial networks, providing much-needed connectivity to farmers and rural residents.
While these new technologies are exciting, industry leaders insist that investment in existing terrestrial networks needs to continue. David Jochinke, president of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), highlighted the need for ongoing commitment to enhance mobile services within rural communities.
“Investment in the terrestrial network needed to continue,” Jochinke stated, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive strategies that incorporate both traditional and emerging technologies.
