- Digital connectivity project upgrades broadband Wi-Fi and telephone services for the remote Tjuntjuntjara Aboriginal community in the Great Victoria Desert
The remote Aboriginal community of Tjuntjuntjara in the Great Victoria Desert is benefiting from improved internet and phone connectivity, through a Cook Government supported project.
The State Government has contributed $503,789 towards the installation of a Wi-Fi mesh network to upgrade broadband Wi-Fi and telephone services to the community.
This project is one of three community Wi-Fi projects awarded to Australian Private Networks – Activ8me – under the Australian Government’s Regional Connectivity Program, with funding support through the WA Regional Digital Connectivity Program.
The completed project is now enabling community members, businesses, and visitors to more easily, and more reliably connect to the public internet – free for unmetered data – and a paid service for metered data such as video streaming.
Connected community members can also now access community public and private networks and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone services.
Tjuntjuntjara is a large Aboriginal community located 650 kilometres north-east of Kalgoorlie in the southern part of the Great Victoria Desert.
The WA Regional Digital Connectivity Program targets co-investments from the Commonwealth and industry, to extend mobile coverage and expand high-grade broadband services to businesses and communities, in regional and remote areas of Western Australia.
This investment will support progress under Closing the Gap outcome 17, which seeks to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equal levels of digital inclusion by 2026.
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“Tjuntjuntjara community members now have access to more reliable communications and a network that will support and encourage people to stay connected, access information, undertake remote study programs, and improve their safety and wellbeing.
“There had previously been very limited broadband internet access for this remote location.
“The Cook Government’s WA Regional Digital Connectivity Program, is helping to bridge the ‘digital divide’, boost connectivity for remote areas of our vast State, and support improved outcomes for Aboriginal residents in those areas.”
