Residents in some of Western Australia's most remote communities will soon receive better communication services after $3.2 million was committed to four new projects in key rural areas.
The projects are funded by the federal government – with contributions from the Western Australian government and Telstra – and fall under its Regional Connectivity Program to boost rural connectivity, one of several initiatives recently funded to "bridge the digital divide" felt most in rural communities.
The RCP is focused on investment in remote communication services to better connect families, businesses and visitors to regions like WA's vast North West, where mining and tourism are dominant sectors heavily reliant on network infrastructure.
Funding via RCP grants are designed to deliver 'place-based' telecommunications infrastructure projects and part of the federal government's $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, to increase productivity and equity for people in regional and rural communities.
The first three rounds of RCP funding have seen $368.4m committed to 297 place-based communications infrastructure projects to boost regional connectivity, with significant upgrades to voice and data services.
Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy said the federal investment in remote Australia reflected its focus on digital inclusion, an important element of Closing the Gap targets.
"Reliable phone services and communications are essential for people in remote communities to access health and other important services," she said.
"The projects across the Kimberley and Pilbara will help improve connectivity for people living there."
In the Kimberley region, three projects have been recently completed through the RCP.
In Kununurra, a new mobile base station has been built to increase coverage there.
At Crossing Falls, south of Kununurra, a separate base station will also provide better coverage in the growing area, as well as to a nearby Aboriginal community at Mud Springs.
At the Aboriginal community of Koorabye, south-west of Fitzroy Crossing, a new base station will improve mobile connectivity, and support development of the local tourism industry.
It also means mean better access for residents to telehealth, education and other essential services.
In the Pilbara, mining town Newman and the remote Jigalong community will receive coverage via new base stations and upgrades.
Federal communications minister Anika Wells said the government would continue to fund infrastructure programs like the RCP to ensure Australians had better coverage, no matter where they lived.
"North West WA is an isolated but incredibly important part of Australia, and ensuring the right communications infrastructure are in place is essential," she said.
