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The Commonwealth Government has committed $150 million from the proceeds of the second partial sale of Telstra to provide Australians who live in extended zones access to telephone calls and connection to the Internet via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) at the untimed local call rate. There are over 100 extended zones, ranging in size from about 8000 to 300 000 square kilometres.

Telstra, the successful tenderer, is currently upgrading telecommunications infrastructure for about 40 000 services, across 80 per cent of Australia's land mass, to provide the new benefits to Australians living in rural and remote areas.

Many of the benefits resulting from the Agreement between the Commonwealth and Telstra have already been passed on to customers in extended zones. Since July 2001, customers in extended zones have had access to calls at the untimed local call rate of 22 cents per call within their own extended zone, as well as to people in adjoining extended zones. Since that date, the same untimed local call rate of a maximum 22 cents has also applied to dial-up access to the Internet in all extended zones, with access being provided on a non-discriminatory basis to ISPs.

From 31 July 2002, customer benefits have been further enhanced, with the preferential rate for calls to Community Service Towns being charged at the untimed local call rate.

From 15 April 2003, people requesting new telephone connections in the Extended Zones have shorter timeframes if they are located close to available infrastructure. Telstra is required to make the new connection within 10 working days.

Extended zone customers were also eligible for an 'always on' two-way satellite-based Internet service, with a choice of access speeds and prices, together with free installation during the initial rollout stage. Installation of the subsidised two-way service has been completed. The two-way service has made Internet costs in remote Australia comparable with those currently available in metropolitan areas. The two-way service is currently available on an unsubsidised basis.

Once the telephony network upgrade is completed, the dial-up Internet speed for all extended zone customers is guaranteed at 14.4 kbps, with 19.2 kbps or higher being available to as large a proportion of extended zone customers as possible. You can test your dial-up speed here. You do not have to be connected to Telstra BigPond to undertake this test.

This program will also provide support for indigenous communities to access affordable public internet services, providing appropriate training and support. The program will provide one-off support for up to 500 communities who take up the Telstra Extended Zones Aboriginal and Islander Communities 2-Way Satellite Internet offer, being made available until 20 June 2003. Support by this Department will be in the form of an offer of a compatible computer, associated equipment, software and technical support. This offer is only available for communities in Extended Zones that agree to use the service to provide public access facilities for their community members.

Further information on developments relating to the Extended Zones Program can be found on the website of the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

• Document ID: 7852 |
• Last modified: 6 February 2008, 2:01pm