Regional Telecommunications Review - Short Online Submissions

Full name:Carol Kunert

Date received:26 June 2015

Chapter 1: How does demand for telecommunications services inform the Review?

Please comment on how your reliance on telecommunications in regional Australia differs from urban areas.

Running a business we do get mobile inquiries. we lose customers if they cannot get through to us. internet is slow and uses valuable time for a simple task that would take only half the time in the city.
during emergencies, it is a drive back to the house to be able to ring the fire or ambulance. or we are dependent on two way radios.
satellite internet is at the mercy of the weather,. on cloudy and rainy days there is a distinct drop in the already low service.

Chapter 2: How are telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote Australia delivered?

Please comment on the delivery of services for example over fixed networks, mobile networks or satellite.

Telstra service on mobile is non existant. Optus service can ge gained for 1 or 2 bars at various parts of the property. there is no reception at the house.
our internet is via satellite and is restricted so that we can only do a minimum of tasks. uploading of videos to our website is not possible, and sharing of documents for the walnut industry is limited. it makes it hard to run a state of the art business from Myrrhee.

Chapter 3: How are services being used in regional, rural and remote Australia?

Please comment on how telecommunication services are being used for example, interacting with government, education, health or running a business.

We run a horticultural and retail business. Phone reception is non existent at the house and variable at various places around our property.
customers continually try me on the mobile and cannot understand why they dont get through. during emergencies, it is a drive back to the house to be able to ring the fire or ambulance.
Our internet is also very slow and makes doing business overly long for a simple task.

Chapter 4: Consumer safeguards

Please provide your views on current consumer safeguards and what should be considered in the future.

NIL

Other comments

Please provide any other comments.

We want reliable mobile communications and fast internet. Our safety in a fire prone area is dependent on good communications. Our business is restricted in its success and growth with slow internet speeds.