A local disconnection

PEACHESTER community members say their broadband services is worse than some developing countries as the federal government rolls out a $150m blackspot grants program.

While locals have welcomed the news that $150 million has been earmarked for regional connectivity and mobile blackspot funding, it comes as residents in the hinterland continue to live with inferior services despite close proximity to Brisbane.

Peachester residents are still being forced to spend considerable effort researching telco options to access reliable connectivity.

This included looking to overseasowned alternatives using satellite-based internet services. Peachester resident Michelle Gawith said in order to stay connected, some locals had turned to the Elon Musk-owned Starlink service. However, with purchase and installation costs ranging in price up to $1500 depending on circumstances, for some, this cost was prohibitive. “I had better internet service in the Himalayas than we currently have at our Peachester residence,” Michelle said.

“After years of disputes, complaints and continual ADSL2 service issues, we finally decided to investigate other options.”

Ms Gawith said reliable service was crucial for her to be able to work from home.

“Is it too much to ask that in 2023 we can get good reliable internet that doesn’t go down in the rain!” she said.

Michelle added that key service providers could be doing more to fix the problematic infrastructure.

A Telstra spokesperson acknowledged that the terrain and dense vegetation of the Glasshouse and Hinterland regions made blanket coverage throughout the area difficult, however there were a number of projects in the pipeline to continue to improve services to the region.

Telstra Regional General Manager, May Boisen, said Telstra’s 4G and 3G coverage was available throughout most of the Sunshine Coast and Glasshouse region with good progress being made to roll out next generation 5G to the area, with Maleny currently next on the list.

“New coverage is coming in the next few months for Beerwah and Booloumba, in addition to sites we’ve already built in the Glasshouse Mountains, Peachester, Maleny and Conondale,” said Ms Boisin. She said Telstra were continuing to investigate new opportunities to further

By Sonia Isaacs

expand mobile coverage, including co-investment opportunities with the Federal Government.

A spokesperson for Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts strongly encouraged community members, local council and other stakeholders in the region to engage with their telecommunications providers and mobile network operators on developing solutions to help ensure communities receive maximum benefit from the public funding.

They said the opening of applications of a combined grant opportunity, across two streams would help improve communications in regional and rural parts of the country. Grant Applications for this combined grant opportunity close on May 31, 2023.