A model for isolated rural communities
A joint project between Kentish Council and Unitas Company Ltd aims to develop an innovative broadband model that can be used by other isolated rural communities throughout Australia. Currently, Kentish residents only have access to relatively low speed telecommunications services using a dial-up modem.
The cost and technical specifications of faster services have made them prohibitive and unattractive to households and the business community. Additional factors, such as Kentish’s mountainous geography have contributed to the unsuitability of traditional high speed telecommunications services.
Council Administrator, Ron Sanderson, said the research to be undertaken by the commercial arm of the University of Tasmania, Unitas Company Ltd, would cover a range of areas, including the existing use of computers and the internet, potential use, economic and social costs and benefits of broadband, training needs and business modelling.
“Results from the research will enable the Council to develop a detailed model that will make a quality broadband service available to all Kentish residents, irrespective of their geographical location,” Ron Sanderson said. “This means we will be investigating solutions that will benefit numerous other communities in rural and regional Australia which are in a similar situation. Currently, we are disadvantaged in terms of telecommunications infrastructure when compared with urban areas such as Hobart, Burnie and Launceston.
“By undertaking this research and developing innovative communications solutions we will be helping the community progress and at the same time creating additional opportunities that are now available through modern telecommunications. It’s an exciting project for Kentish that could put us on the map nationally. We aim to develop something that benefits not only our community, but also similar rural and regional communities Australia wide.”
The research project is expected to begin immediately, with the final report expected to be out by the end of February.
For further information, contact Ron Sanderson on (03) 6491 2500.
