TCICA Region Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health
TCICA Region Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health
- Author(s): Babacan, Hurriyet, McHugh, Jennifer, Marshall, Amber, Gopalkrishnan, Narayan, Dale, Allan
- Published: 2021
- Publisher: Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance, The Cairns Institute and QUT Digital Media Research Centre
Abstract: Executive Summary Participation in the digital economy provides a major opportunity to diversify regional economies, develop improved global economic participation, improve workforce attraction and retention, and enable competitiveness. The deployment of digital infrastructure also has significant non-economic impacts such as facilitating enhanced wellbeing, improved service delivery, opportunities for education and training, and improved liveability and social connectivity. Key to this is high-speed reliable digital connectivity, effective planning for access, and localised digital capabilities (Marshall, Babacan & Dale, 2021). Torres and Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance Inc (TCICA) commissioned studies suggest that broadband and mobile infrastructure and services will provide real opportunities for economic and social development in the Cape and Torres region (ARUP, 2019; Matson, 2020). ARUP (2019:86) concludes that poor digital connectivity “limits the ability to maximise economic opportunities, partake in e-learning or benefit from tele-health services, and generally impacts on social connectivity and quality of life”. These TCICA studies, along with this report, identify connectivity as one of the transformative strategies needed for the region. As the As a consequence of that need, and as an alliance of 13 councils in the Cape York and Torres Strait, TCICA has commissioned The Cairns Institute at James Cook University (JCU) and the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to develop a Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity Strategy for the Torres and Cape region. This regional scope includes the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Aurukun Shire Council Cook Shire Council, Hopevale Aboriginal Shire Council, Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council, Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council, Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, Mornington Shire Council, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council, Torres Strait Regional Authority, Weipa Town Authority and Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council. A range of methodologies were used to undertake the project, including focus groups in each of the LGAs, the development of technical audit and digital community profiles for the TCICA region, a focus group meeting with an expert technical panel and interviews with targeted telecommunication providers. The digital profiles for each LGA were developed, mapping out mobile, satellite and fixed internet and ADSL provision across the region and the extent and nature of coverage. Focus groups were undertaken with over 103 stakeholders from different sectors and agencies to gain an understanding of the nature of issues experienced. These contributions to the study uncovered key challenges relating to: • Infrastructure gaps: The levels of service available and those enjoyed in the major metropolitan areas differ significantly. The economics of communications provision in remote areas militates against extensive provision of terrestrial backbone links, whether by microwave radio or optical fibre, and mobile phone coverage. While satellite internet can deliver acceptable service, it is recognised that the quality and reliability of services deteriorates particularly during cyclones and storms. Participants reported unreliability of internet and mobile services with slow speeds, inadequate network capacity, drop outs, black spots and lack of geographical coverage. • Service quality and social infrastructure gaps: Limited or mismatched telecommunications services/plans to meet rural and remote consumer needs and the affordability of plans (particularly where there are redundancies and lack of access to local technical support). TCICA Region Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity 2 • Digital awareness and skills: There is limited consumer knowledge about digital options, a lack of skills for problem solving, limited localised support for digital knowledge sharing and skills development, intergenerational digital skills gaps, and a lack of cyber security knowledge. • Safety Considerations: Due to lack of digital connectivity, problems emerge during disasters and emergencies, times of isolation along major roads and routes, periods of high compliance with COVID- 19 measures, and times when people need to respond to social issues (e.g. domestic violence, policing), border security and bio-security. • Equity and Rights: Digital connectivity was seen as an issue of equity and rights across TCICA communities. Participants felt that the Universal Service Guarantee (USG) was either not adequately being met or was inadequate to meet the needs and expectations for social and economic development within the Torres and Cape region. • Emerging Impacts: There were a range of impacts of digital connectivity challenges in areas such as work, employment, social connectivity, economic development, safety, education and training information needs, links with government agencies; options for remote digital service delivery, health and mental health, region’s liveability and attracting professional staff. While there are significant constraints on digital telecommunications, some progressive investments are being made into the region. These include investments under the federal Mobile Black Spot Program and the Regional Connectivity Program (RCP), where some LGAs have received funding to address specific issues. Additionally, NBN Co and Telstra have announced significant investment with a focus on regional and rural connectivity. From this broader context, a Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity Strategy for the TCICIA region was developed with six strategic focus areas, along with suggested initiatives and time frames (see Table below). The strategy was aligned to the three dimensions of digital inclusion (access, affordability and ability) and focused on different categories of enablement from (i.e. Category 1: Individual, family or business; Category 2: Community organisation or community; Category 3: Regional; Category 4: Cross-regional). The implementation of the Strategy will require the development of an implementation plan and should involve the formation of working groups to drive investment development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation. TCICA should lead the development of such a plan, supported by its University and other partners and it should also be guided by a critical reference group as outlined in the Strategy. The engagement of telecommunication providers and other stakeholders is going to be critical to the successful implementation of the Strategy. Thought should be given to which stakeholders will be engaged, mechanisms and levels of engagement and which stage of delivery. The communities in the Torres and Cape region have aspirations for economic and social and cultural development and wellbeing. This report concludes that a lack of regional-scale planning leaves individuals, families and communities to resolve complex digital planning and service development issues. At the local scale, digital connectivity enables people to earn a living, run a business, have social contact, access services, and participate in civic life. Evidence highlights the critical roles that digital connectivity plays, particularly in information exchange, decision making, building social capital, civic participation, and connection for long term recovery. A whole of region approach to resolving these issues can empower local communities, businesses, families and individuals to secure better access and to improve the benefit they derive from these emerging new opportunities. Digital participation can be strongly empowering, helping people to overcome their sense of helplessness, giving them a sense of control and agency for individuals, communities and businesses, and helping them fulfil economic and social aspirations and develop resilience in the long term.