Telecommunications and Regional Development

While modern telecommunications infrastructure and services have been recognised as important in stimulating regional economic development, significant disparities in their provision have been observed between metropolitan and regional areas. Some of the identified advantages of telecommunications services include the diversification of economic and social opportunities, improved efficiencies for regional businesses, and the potential for population growth. Recognising this, regional communities have been putting increasing pressure on governments to improve options for public and private provision of telecommunications services. Some regional communities have taken a more direct role in this process. This article includes a case study of an example in the Riverina Region of New South Wales where the Riverina Regional Development Board instituted a program with Telstra Country Wide to improve the region's telecommunications infrastructure.