Poor mobile and slow internet coverage are two of the biggest issues faced by people living in regional and remote NSW. Whether it's running daily life or business activities or communicating during a catastrophic emergency, when access to connectivity is unavailable, the impacts and consequences are far reaching and can create social and economic disadvantage.
The 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires and the 2022 NSW Floods brought into sharp focus the critical need and urgency for improved access to mobile, internet and digital services for communities living in regional and remote NSW.
The NSW Government identified that the existing base station infrastructure was insufficient and speeds on current stations were too slow to meet current and future needs.
A project to enable digital connectivity in the regions that is comparable to the quality of services available in metropolitan areas of the State was developed as part of a $400 million Regional Digital Connectivity Program, Connecting Country Communities (CCC). The aim is to achieve faster, more reliable broadband internet access for regional NSW.
Delivered by NSW Telco Authority, the $11.5 million investment over five years will see 46 new and enhanced base stations completed in the Monaro and Kangaroo Valley region. By August 2022, 25 new base stations had been installed and 16 existing stations upgraded.
The Connecting Country Communities program focussed on working with rural service providers to achieve customised solutions for local connectivity issues.
South in NSW's Kangaroo Valley and the Monaro region, NSW Telco Authority is working with local communications carriers Ito deliver fixed wireless broadband infrastructure and identify site locations to ensure maximum coverage for the community.
The CCC will achieve social and economic benefits for regional NSW communities who have lived with poor digital connectivity for too long. Whether it's access to essential health services, education, eCommerce, social media, or remaining connected during a disaster, families and businesses will now have faster, more reliable network coverage.
More Information
To find out more about the Connecting Country Communities (CCC) Program, contact connectingcommunities@customerservice.nsw.gov.au or visit Connecting Country Communities Fund
Learn more about the NSW Connectivity Strategy
If you have a project or program that would benefit from being part of the NSW Connectivity Strategy, please contact connectivity.strategy@customerservice.nsw.gov.au