Council is advocating for a clear plan, timeline and funding commitment to achieving digital equality, ensuring that the people of the Western Downs, and all rural and regional Australians, have the connectivity to support their lives, livelihoods and communities.
We know that reliable mobile and internet connectivity is essential - not just for convenience, but for safety, economic growth, and everyday life.
That’s why Council is calling on the Federal Government to deliver a clear, funded plan to close the digital divide between the city and the bush and ensure our communities are not left behind.
Why Connectivity Matters
Despite being a powerhouse of agriculture and manufacturing and The Energy Capital of Queensland, the Western Downs still faces serious gaps in mobile and internet coverage. These gaps are more than just inconvenient - they’re holding back local businesses, putting lives at risk during emergencies, and limiting access to essential services like telehealth, education, and government support.
In 2023, our region experienced two catastrophic bushfires, one of which was the largest in Queensland’s history. In times like these, reliable mobile and internet coverage can mean the difference between safety and danger. Yet, Council's 2024 Regional Connectivity Survey revealed that:
- 76% of respondents experience moderate to severe mobile coverage issues
- 8% have no mobile coverage at all
- 93% said improved connectivity is vital for daily life and business
- 40% rated their internet connection as poor or non-existent
- 42% are concerned about the cost of internet plans
- 34% rated their plans as expensive, and 8% as very expensive
What This Means for Our Region
Emergency Response: Without mobile and internet coverage, people can’t call for help, receive alerts, or stay informed during disasters.
Business Operations: Many local businesses struggle with basic tasks like EFTPOS payments or contacting customers. Additionally, many industries rely on digital tools to operate effectively, and these tools need strong internet access.
Everyday Life: From online learning to accessing government services, digital connectivity is now a basic need.
Council's Advocacy
"Adequate and accessible telecommunications services are now viewed as an essential service for everyday life, an enabler of human rights as well as a human right by people living in regional, rural and remote Australia as part of a broad social contract with the Australian Government."
2024 Regional Telecommunications Review Report
Digital connectivity is no longer a luxury - it’s a necessity. Where you live shouldn’t determine whether you can run a business, access services, or stay safe in an emergency. That's why Council is directly engaging with Government and industry to treat digital connectivity for rural and regional Australia as critical infrastructure, not an afterthought.
We’re asking for:
- A clear timeline for improvements.
- A focus on disaster-prone areas where connectivity is critical.
- Support for new technologies that work in rural settings - not just in cities.
- Measures to ensure fair pricing for regional customers.
There is a marked digital divide between the cities and the country. Unless something changes, the gap - and everything that this entails economically and socially - will continue to widen.
In late 2024 Western Downs Regional Council conducted a regional Digital Connectivity Survey to hear from our residents about their views and experiences with digital connectivity and telecommunications across the region, including mobile or internet service issues and how well the services currently on offer meet their needs. The information collected through the survey is being used to further strengthen our advocacy to the State and Federal Governments to increase targeted funding to improve connectivity for regional Australia.
Key Findings
Fixed Line Connectivity Challenges:
WDRC’s urban centres, such as Dalby, Chinchilla, and Miles, benefit from Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Fibre to the Node (FTTN), delivering higher-speed internet. However, rural and remote areas still rely on Fixed Wireless and Satellite services, which typically provide lower speeds and higher latency. This urban-rural divide is further complicated by the absence of Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) in the region and the limited bandwidth capacity of Fixed Wireless and Satellite technologies, underscoring the need for targeted investments to boost speeds and reliability beyond urban zones.
Mobile Connectivity Challenges:
Mobile coverage is dominated by Telstra, which has made notable infrastructure investments and introduced some 5G services in urban areas. Optus and TPG/Vodafone have far fewer tower sites, focusing mostly on urban zones with limited expansions into sparsely populated areas. As a result, large parts of WDRC’s rural landscape remain underserved, with coverage gaps that hinder communication and productivity, pointing to the need for ongoing tower upgrades and expansions to improve mobile reliability and enable advanced services throughout the region.
Community Insights:
- Mobile Coverage: Over 75% of survey respondents reported moderate to severe mobile coverage issues, with blackspots impacting safety and economic activities.
- Internet Quality: 40% of residents rate their internet connection as poor or non-existent, particularly in rural areas dominated by Fixed Wireless and Satellite technologies.
- 93% of respondents identified improved connectivity as vital for daily life and business operations.
- Key priorities include expanding mobile coverage, increasing internet speeds, and enhancing reliability.
Digital Connectivity Roadshow
In October 2025, Western Downs Regional Council brought industry experts from NBN Co, Telstra, and the Regional Tech Hub to the region for an interactive Digital Connectivity Roadshow.
The free roadshow sessions provided businesses and locals one-on-one tailored support and guidance on topics such as:
- Optimising internet performance
- Securing robust EFTPOS connections
- Selecting SIM plans to maximise coverage
The Digital Connectivity Roadshow visited Chinchilla, Dalby, Jandowae, Meandarra, Miles, Tara and Wandoan.
Read WDRC's Media Release here.
Project Kupier
Excerpt from NBN Co Media Release, dated 5 August 2025:
"NBN Co and Amazon today announced an agreement to deliver high-speed, wholesale fixed broadband to customers in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia via Project Kuiper’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology.
Project Kuiper is Amazon's satellite broadband business that will provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world. Amazon is planning to launch its service in Australia from the middle of 2026.
When Project Kuiper launches in Australia, NBN Co plans to offer wholesale residential-grade fixed LEO satellite broadband services to more than 300,000 premises within our existing satellite footprint via participating Retail Service Providers (RSPs).
nbn’s wholesale LEO satellite offering powered by Project Kuiper will be available to both eligible1 existing and new customers within nbn’s satellite footprint, via participating RSPs.
The agreement will enable NBN Co to transition from its existing geostationary Sky Muster satellite service over the coming years and will complement NBN Co’s investments in fibre and fixed wireless upgrades for regional Australia."
Read NBN Co's full Media Release here.