“That ICPA (Aust) continues to request the Minister for Communications to ensure Telstra meets their Universal Service Guarantee of providing quality, efficient, and reliable voice services to rural and remote premises to access education, including fixed address pastoral leases, remote communities, and remote roadhouses.”
Through the Universal Service Guarantee, Telstra are paid by the Australian Government to ensure all Australians have access to a standard telephone. With the announcement that Telstra would be phasing out landline services in the coming years it’s important that they are replaced with the same quality and reliability as provided in metropolitan areas. Including no delays and interruptions such as those experienced when using satellite phone systems. It is essential that these services be efficient and reliable during all Australian weather conditions with appropriate backup power supply to ensure students can access education/schooling without interruption. In areas where a mobile network has already been established, it’s important that these are upgraded to current standards such as 4G or 5G, and the area covered in maintained or improved.
