Federal inquiry into mobile phone infrastructure visits Geelong

NEW ways of improving mobile coverage in regional areas were discussed when a federal committee visited Geelong earlier this month.

The Standing Committee on Communication and the Arts, which includes Corangamite federal member Libby Coker, held a public hearing at Novotel Geelong for interested parties to speak and elaborate on their submissions to the inquiry into co-investment in multi-carrier regional mobile infrastructure.

Established in September last year, the inquiry is investigating the costs, feasibility and public benefits of infrastructure that supports a single mobile carrier compared to infrastructure that supports multiple mobile carriers, community views on this, and examples of successful multi-carrier infrastructure.

The bipartisan committee, chaired by Lyons federal member Brian Mitchell, has noted most mobile infrastructure is not co-located, especially in regional areas, and is trying to understand why the rates of co-location for Australia’s major mobile providers dramatically decline outside of urban areas.

Speakers and submitters in Geelong at the June 7 hearing included Barwon Health, the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety, the Police Association of Victoria, the Victorian Women’s Trust, and the Indi Telecommunications Advisory Group.

In its submission, the Victorian Women’s Trust stated its Rural Women Online project had found geographical isolation and the “digital divide” was an ongoing problem for women in rural and regional areas.

“Women cannot upskill without comprehensive, fair, and affordable data. “Currently there are single and dual market operators in many areas of Victoria who provide limited-service delivery.

“Many of the women who participated in our program felt that operators were marketing ‘digital bundles’ which, once paid for, did not work, or if they did, worked intermittently with limited or no follow up service in their area.”There was also a Geelong business and councils roundtable at the hearing.

“Co-investment is a tool which allows multiple telecommunications providers to invest in and share ‘multi-carrier’ mobile towers and related infrastructure,” Ms Coker said.

“Mobile phone accessibility is important for all Australians and communities, and it’s particularly significant in our region.

“This inquiry was a positive step in identifying opportunities and challenges for mobile infrastructure across the nation.

“I’d like to thank the many businesses and community members for contributing to the hearing, your input is vital to building a stronger foundation for mobile connectivity in our region.”

For more information on the inquiry and to read all submissions, head to aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Communications/Mobileco-investment