Flags to Fibre: A regional community's experience of Australia's communication practice and policy
University of Tasmania and Monash University
Authored by Dr Claire Konkes, Professor Libby Lester, Dr Janine Mikosza and Dr Lucy Richardson
Flags to Fibre investigates connectivity in the Tasman region, a community less than an hour from Hobart, as a case study for how regional communities experience telecommunications policies and practices. The study drew on 122 survey responses, 12 in-depth interviews, community mapping and more than two decades of media coverage. Residents, business owners, tourism operators and emergency volunteers describe their phone and internet services in the same three ways: unreliable, dangerous, and keeping the region poor.
The report found that connectivity affects five key areas of life in the region:
Emergencies: In a "one road in, one road out" community with a history of bushfires and tragedy, residents worry they won't be able to call Triple Zero or receive warnings when it matters most.
Health: People described dropped telehealth calls, missed hospital appointments, failed medical alert devices and diabetes apps that stop working. Some must drive or walk to find a signal.
Equity: Households near a tower can get good service, while neighbours only a short distance away have little or none. Many feel they pay the same as city customers for far less.
Education and employment: Remote work and online study are often not possible, and poor coverage holds back people who want to live and work in the region.
Business and tourism: EFTPOS fails, bookings are lost, and visitors can't navigate or contact operators. All of these problems get worse in the peak summer season.
Read the report here:
Read the report with appendices here: