We need to improve mobile connectivity in the bush. We can start by collecting more data

‘The spate of major telecommunications network outages, high volumes of consumer complaints and loss of potential productivity will continue without policy reforms,’ writes Mark Gregory. Photograph: Michele Jackson/Getty Images/iStockphoto

In 2022, I carried out a mobile performance study, driving across four states to check mobile data speeds. Our research focused on the mid-west of Western Australia and separately eight towns with large First Nations populations located in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. We found that some rural areas experienced mobile data speeds 90% lower than urban areas.

This will not be news to people in the bush: the digital divide in rural areas is now wider than ever before. Urban areas are getting 5G while many rural communities, farmers and small businesses continue to experience very poor or no mobile coverage.