The Alliance reiterated that low-quality connectivity outside of Australia’s cities is an ongoing issue and that this is exacerbated by the 3G network shutdown for people living in rural areas. Reports with the Alliance Chief Executive’s comments were published nationally in The Daily Mail, 7NEWS The Nightly, AAP and on ABC Radio National PM with Linda Mottram, as well as on other state and regional outlets countrywide.
The Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Reference Committee called for a delay in the shutdown of Telstra and Optus’ 3G networks until more is done to work out how many devices could be impacted by the shutdown (including non-phone devices).
The committee heard from a variety of different stakeholders, including the Alliance, about the impact the shutdown will have on devices that hadn’t been considered when the decision was made, including medical devices, emergency phones in elevators, and even surveying equipment.