Remotely Connected: Is There a Seamless Solution to Address the Digital Divide in Remote Indigenous Communities?

Abstract

It is often stated that Australians pick up on new technologies early, in particular those that assist with communications across distances. However, there have been significant barriers when it comes to accessing the Internet in many urban, regional and remote locations due to a variety of reasons, making peoples experience of the Internet both expensive and slow. There is also limited Internet access depending on where you live, with some remote communities having no access via phone line modem, broadband cable, satellite or Next G mobile phones. Distance is a great challenge in remote areas as there may be hundreds of kilometres to the next town, making the provision of essential infrastructure and services difficult.

This chapter scopes some of the strategies and technologies being used in remote and rural Australia to leapfrog the digital divide; and a documentation of some key findings of recent research focused on a number of remote Indigenous communities and access to the Internet and mobile phone networks. The scoping exercise is focused on developing a best practice approach to engaging with remote Indigenous communities to collaboratively develop effective information communications technology (ICT) literacy skills and improved access to communications technology. It is also a documentation of my evolving understanding of the complex challenges people face in remote areas and the significant impact of the digital divide, specifically in smaller remote Indigenous communities.