Free Wi‑Fi for 53 remote communities – RMIT experts react

The federal government last week announced plans to install free public Wi-Fi in a further 53 remote communities, in a move aimed at narrowing the digital divide for First Nations Australians.

The announcement follows ongoing fieldwork by RMIT researchers, providing vital information about digital inclusion to help close the digital gap for First Nations communities.

First Nations Principal Research Fellow and co-chair of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group, Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker, said Friday's announcement was a positive step towards closing the digital gap.

"Free public Wi-Fi in these 53 communities will help fill a critical gap by providing a more affordable way to get online," he said.

RMIT research has found First Nations Australians are more than twice as likely to face digital exclusion as other Australians and there are nearly 700 communities and homelands without mobile connectivity.

Ormond-Parker said community-wide Wi-Fi services play an important role in meeting community needs for access to critical communications and online services.

Associate Professor Daniel Featherstone, who leads a project on mapping digital inclusion for First Nations Australians, said the free Wi-Fi rollout reinforces years of research showing that "digital access is essential infrastructure for First Nations communities".

He said limited infrastructure, low household connectivity and high reliance on pre-paid mobile services make it much harder for people in remote communities to get online.

"In the 12 remote communities visited under our Mapping the Digital Gap research, nearly three in four people were impacted by digital exclusion," Featherstone said.

"The biggest contributors to the digital gap were low rates of household connectivity and reliance on pre-paid mobile services, with affordability another key factor.

"Free public Wi-Fi begins to relieve some of that pressure, but it needs to be paired with investment in local infrastructure and affordable home connections if we're serious about closing the digital gap.

"In the meantime, many remote communities still go without reliable internet and phone services, so there is a long way to go."

Organisations and communities can use an interactive dashboard tracking First Nations digital inclusion to inform local decision making. Access the First Nations Digital Inclusion Dashboard.

Story: Aеdеn Rаtcliffe