1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Original Telecommunications Review is open at the moment, but it 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: does wind up in a matter of days to hear 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: from people who experience telecommunication issues out in regional areas. Now, this, 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: as I suppose, ever since mobile phones were invented, has 5 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: been an issue depending on where you live. Find in 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: the city generally but not so good outside it. And 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: I was surprised, frankly to fly to Sojouna a couple 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: of months ago to talk to people there about the 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: issues they were happening in that town, to find that 10 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: Vota phone had zero reception. I would have thought twenty 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: twenty four you could take a phone to any regional center, 12 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: any town in Australia and have or just about have 13 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: communications with the outside world. Not so. Alana mcteerman is 14 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: chair of the Regional Telecommunications Review and joins me now, Alana, 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: good morning, good day. 16 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 2: Matthew, thanks very much for having us on. 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: I don't imagine Sjuna is alone in this. What have 18 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: people been telling. 19 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: You, Well, just a couple of things when we're looking 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 2: at mobile but we're looking more broadly at a broadband 21 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 2: connection as well, so it's all the telecommunications and you 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: will find there are some like Vodafone TPG have tended 23 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: to have most of their coverage in cities and peri 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: urban areas. Other carriers like tels and Optors have broader, 25 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: broader coverage. Their rial proposals now between Optics and Vodaphone 26 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 2: to share their coverage, which is that if that gets approval, 27 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: that would be a positive development. But what we are 28 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: hearing is that certainly there's a lot of challenges with 29 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,559 Speaker 2: mobile coverage. It's clear that a lot of people aren't 30 00:01:54,560 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: fully on top of how you can use your broadband, 31 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 2: your broadband, your NBN entitlement to maximize the result for you. 32 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: But what is very clear that mobile is in the 33 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 2: bush is still a problem, and in some places an 34 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: increasing problem, because more and more people are using their 35 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: mobile network to do anything from streaming films TV to 36 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: actually using it for a whole lot of things that 37 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: traditionally you might have used your broadband connection form. 38 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: So how do we how do we get that infirm 39 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: and how do people what do they need to know 40 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: to maximize their use. 41 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 2: Well, And this is part of the This is a 42 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: real challenge. Particularly obviously we've got these new technologies that 43 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: are coming in, like the low orbit satellites. People know 44 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: the existing brand, which is Link. There's more due to 45 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 2: come on stream in the next year or so, but 46 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 2: really understanding how those technologies work, which ones would what's 47 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: available to you in your area. This is a big 48 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: challenge for regional people. I mean, where are the sting 49 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: people to understand some pretty complex stuff here and to 50 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: and to make decisions. So one of there is the 51 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 2: government has set up a thing called the Regional Tech Hub, 52 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: which is there to give advice to people, an impartial 53 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 2: de advice. It's a relatively small organization. So one of 54 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: the things that we're certainly looking at is what more 55 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: could be done to help people understand what their options 56 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: are and where given that we're One of the real 57 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: challenges Matthew too, for government is going to be government 58 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 2: has put in The current government I think has put 59 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: in one point one billion, and I think disc governments 60 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 2: we're putting a lot of money in. But because technology 61 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: is changing so rapidly, if there is going to be 62 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: this massive move to satellite, and we know as of 63 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 2: next year we're going to get directed device, so mobile 64 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 2: phones will be able to communicate directly with the low wall, 65 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: but low wor but satellite, you know, trying to work 66 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 2: out should we just be continuing to plug the gaps 67 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: with more mobile towers or is it how do we 68 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: knowing that these technology is changing and we're getting very 69 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,239 Speaker 2: positive feedback around styling, I mean there is a cost 70 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: to it, but a lot of people are being very 71 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: positive about it. But how do we make sure that 72 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,359 Speaker 2: we're putting the money in the right spot. Clearly a 73 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: lot of people aren't aware that everyone is entitled to 74 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 2: an NBN service and that these NBN services have increased. 75 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: If more people were using their NBN, arguably it could 76 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 2: take some of the pressure off the mobile phone system. 77 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: Starlink for people in regional areas just must be absolute magic, I imagine, and. 78 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: Particularly people which and we're finding a lot of this 79 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 2: with challenging topography where you can't where you can't get 80 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 2: line of sight to to a tower, and we're found 81 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 2: like in Northern Victoria, central Coast, in New South Wales 82 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 2: right even right up in Torres Strait, the low orbit 83 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 2: satellite is able to really get into areas that has 84 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 2: been very very difficult to actually get mobile mobile coverage with. 85 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: But there's no doubt that there's a problem with the 86 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 2: mobile coverage and the telco's believe that it is that 87 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 2: it's because more people are using mobile phone for different applications, 88 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: not using their broadband connections. But quite clearly there's a 89 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 2: body of you know, there's more to be done, and 90 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 2: I think the government is very keen to sort of 91 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: work out and we're trying to work out the best 92 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 2: way to move forward on there's how given the technology 93 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: is changing so rapidly that you know, we'll see directed 94 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: device and that will probably become quite common, so you 95 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 2: won't need to have a satellite dish on your phone. 96 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: Satellites will be talking you know, probably quite generally by 97 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 2: twenty and twenty six into two mobile phones. 98 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's that's incredible. You're in South Australia this week 99 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: having consultations Whila on Bay on Ki. I'm not sure 100 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: if Streaky Base connected to that, but I know people 101 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: there are concerned about the service as they are in 102 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: other places. So getting response from people across ESA. 103 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, we've had We were actually in South Australia 104 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 2: last week and I met with your South Australian Minister 105 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: Claire Scriven also said very very good work being done 106 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: by the South Australian Government and you know they we 107 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: had several discussions with them about what are planning and 108 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: their views, and then we had meetings with councils community 109 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: leaders in both Kangaroo Island and Wayla. So we can't 110 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: get to every community as you can imagine across this 111 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: vast continent, yes, but we are we have. We have 112 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: been taking written submissions and we've got a survey up 113 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 2: on our website and I'm sure you'll get the website 114 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 2: at the end of this, but we've had a survey 115 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 2: only open for a couple of more days. It's been up, 116 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: but it's a very easy and quick way to participate, 117 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 2: to get on answer a series of multiple choice pard 118 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 2: questions and that will help us get a snapshot of 119 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 2: what people are experiencing right across the country and. 120 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: That's very important. All ones up in a couple of days. 121 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: As you say, well the. 122 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 2: Public submissions do. We've still got some more consultations are 123 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: going on in southern New South Wales and then in 124 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 2: the Kimberley and the Northern Territory, so we'll still be 125 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 2: doing some public consults, but to give us time to 126 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 2: actually process all of the public submissions. They'll be closing 127 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 2: at the end of July because we've got to do 128 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: a lot of work really analyzing the data and we're 129 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 2: going to have our we will be reporting to government 130 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 2: by the end of the year. 131 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: I suppose what happens is in government's hands. But from 132 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: what you've learned so far, Alanta, what would you like 133 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: to see happen ultimately? 134 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 2: Well, certainly, I think all of the committee is very 135 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: an artist that we think that more health needs to 136 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 2: be given to people in the bush to just understand 137 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: what the options are available to them. Like you know, 138 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 2: for example, we will often you people say, oh no, 139 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 2: we don't have MBN here. NBN is available everywhere in Australia. 140 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 2: You know, that's the broadband service and because there has 141 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 2: been a lot more investment in it in the it 142 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 2: really it's its capacity to deliver good broadband has increased. 143 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: So this and then people trying to make a decision. 144 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 2: You've got all these different service providers offering you different 145 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 2: things you've got and then you've got the prospect of 146 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 2: these low orbit satellite how do you make a decision? 147 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 2: You know what they all they're not making their pictures 148 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 2: necessarily in the same way. So one of the things 149 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 2: that is very clear is that we well, we would 150 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 2: like more help to be given to people to understand 151 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: this complex decision making process that I've got to go 152 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 2: through to get cost effective telecommunications. 153 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: Alana, really appreciate your time this morning. 154 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: Thank you, good on Yon, Thanks very much. 155 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: Alana McTiernan, who is chair of the Regional Telecommunications Review 156 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: the website. If you want to go on and do 157 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:52,599 Speaker 1: that survey, answer some questions r t C, r T I, 158 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: r C. I should say rt IRC dot gov dot 159 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: Au or just google Regional Telecommunications Review. That's probably just 160 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: as effective.