On Wednesday the 25th of February, the final report of the Senate Inquiry into the 3G network shutdown concluded that the transition had been mishandled, leaving many Australians without service as previously unseen coverage gaps emerged.
“Mobile coverage maps didn’t tell the truth, and many farm communities have lost the connectivity we need to stay safe, let alone conduct our business,” said Sarah Thompson, a member of the NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee.
The 3G shutdown has severely impacted mobile phones and data services vital for farmers to operate their businesses. Many have been forced to invest in expensive upgrades to machinery like water monitors, tractors, and irrigation systems to keep their businesses running smoothly.
The report suggests a co-funded program to help rural customers purchase equipment like signal boosters to improve connectivity. It also recommends expanding a national mobile coverage audit and accelerating the rollout of Starlink mobile services.
Ms. Thompson emphasised the need for continued work to improve rural connectivity: “We still need mobile towers upgraded so that we have at least the same connectivity as we had before. The Federal Government must collaborate with telcos to implement both this report’s recommendations and those of the Regional Telecommunications Review to ensure rural communities get the reliable connectivity they deserve.”
She also called for stronger government oversight to prevent such disruptions in the future.
Source: beefcentral.com
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