That ICPA (Aust) continues to request the Minister for Communications ensure all rural and remote students have adequate internet access with regard to speed, quality, capabilities and cost of the service.
We acknowledge and thank ICPA (Aust) and the Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia for their continuous and effective lobbying of the Federal Government, Telstra, nbnTM, Starlink and other providers on internet issues in the bush. The prioritisation of installations required for education is paramount. Many remote families are using the internet provided by the family business. Or are having to pay for it themselves if educational internet data is not part of their employment package. This includes tertiary and training students. Small rural schools and boarding students who’ve returned home for a period.
While expected data speeds, plan sizes and service reliability are continually improving, our members have concerns about the data allocations in plans being heavily loaded towards unreasonable off-peak times. The Mb/$ continues to fall extremely short of those available to our urban counterparts, thus ensuring maintenance of the internet divide between regional and urban areas.
Currently many families are paying for two services to ensure reliability whilst undertaking recent internet trials. To ensure there are no disruptions to their children’s education, including Home Tudors studying to complete university degrees or TAFE courses.
