A remote telecommunications specialist has urged the Federal Government to deliver telecommunications via the “best and most reliable platform” even if that means satellite may not be suitable.
Philip Dutchak, managing director of Cape York Digital Network P/L, an indigenous not-for-profit company servicing Cape York, was one of four presentations to the Productivity Commission’s public hearing into telecommunications universal service obligation in Cairns last week.
He said the best use of telecommunications was to the people who are most in need or the people who need it most – remote Australia.
“Remote Australians in general need specific attention,” Mr Dutchak said.
The Cairns hearing – the only one held in Queensland – was part of the commission’s 12-month inquiry into the extent that the federal government should be required to support universal access to a minimum level of retail telecommunications services. A draft report has recommended that the USO be abolished, which in simple terms means there will be no entitlement for homes to have a fixed landline.
Mr Dutchak said fibre optic had been delivered into many Cape York communities and despite its remote location, the region was rapidly adapting to changes in telecommunications.
“When we first started we put computers in centres, now it’s smart phones because they want to be mobile,” Mr Dutchak said.
“If you are going to provide a USO, we are suggesting that you need to provide it on the most stable and reliable platform available.
“Some places will need to have satellite but in places there are other needs.
“In some cases satellite is the only option and the government should be congratulated for doing that, but people in remote Australia use telecommunications a lot more than people in cities.
“They can’t go down to the shop and pick it up, they have to use it for health and education.
“While many remote indigenous communities, outstations, farms and isolated dwellings do use or will need satellite (NBN satellite), in regards to the USO, the productivity commission’s draft report has noted the technical limitations on satellite.
“So a baseline USO, whatever that may be determined to be, would be better delivered by the transport of optic fibre where available into remote communities.”
Mr Dutchak said a USO should have the relevant support so people “know what to expect from it in terms of level of service and have someone to call if it isn’t working”.
“A baseline USO should include that it is reliable and adequate for the government’s digital services – if people cannot connect or have to connect multiple times to a service, the speed, the bandwidth is secondary,” he said.
“Costs for a new USO need to be measured against total delivery of services and the content or services from the government on its side, need to keep improving its digital access, websites and digital services.”
He said there was a real chance the digital divide would get worse for indigenous people.
“Technology is moving so fast, people can see other things happening in the big cities, they want it here,” Mr Dutchak said.
“I’m not saying every single service in the city should be available in the country but people in remote Australia basically need better than they’re getting. They are trying new systems to what the government is offering which suggests to me that there is a gap.”
