The Second Annual Regional Connectivity Symposium 2024: Driving the Future of Regional Connectivity

Event: Second Annual Regional Connectivity Symposium

Date: 29 and 30 May 2024

Location: Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga NSW Australia

The Regional Connectivity Symposium 2024, held on 29-30 May at the Charles Sturt University’s Wagga campus, brought together experts from academia, industry leaders, and government representatives to address the connectivity challenges in regional New South Wales. Hosted by the Connectivity Innovation Network, the symposium highlighted innovations and facilitated discussions focused on enhancing digital infrastructure in remote areas.

Day 1: Innovations in Sustainable Farming

The symposium’s first day featured a presentation by Jon Medway, Director of the Global Digital Farm initiative at Charles Sturt University. Medway highlighted the transformative role of data and digital technology in sustainable farming.

The tour of the Global Digital Farm underscored the importance of translating technological advancements into practical solutions, showing how digital connectivity can drive sustainable agriculture forward. The day concluded with a networking event at Cellar Door, where attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas and foster collaborations.

Day 2: Addressing Connectivity Challenges

Dr. Ian Oppermann, Director of the Connectivity Innovation Network, opened the second day of the symposium, followed by an address from Professor Michael Friend. Dallas Tout, the Mayor of Wagga Wagga, then discussed the connectivity and sensing challenges and opportunities for the region.

Rania Wannous from the NSW Telco Authority outlined the vision for NSW to lead in connectivity across government initiatives. Central to this vision is the Public Safety Network (PSN), one of the world’s largest trunked radio networks, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding areas of mass congregation and vital infrastructure. Wannous highlighted initiatives like Community Connectivity Kits and Broadband Connectivity Drones, which address diverse connectivity challenges across NSW’s varied terrains.

A facilitated discussion featuring Jen Medway, Jon Medway, and Ailie Webb focused on connectivity challenges in Wagga Wagga, emphasising the need for community-driven solutions and robust digital infrastructure.

Large Area Wi-Fi demonstration

During lunch, attendees were treated to a live demonstration of the Large Area Wi-Fi (LAWiFi) project, an initiative by CIN designed to provide scalable and robust internet access in underserved regions. The demonstration showcased the project’s potential to transform connectivity in remote areas, offering real-time insights and hands-on experience with the technology.

Expert Insights and Future Directions

Peter Adams from the Department of Regional NSW highlighted efforts to achieve metropolitan-level service and pricing parity in rural, remote, and regional areas. Adams underscored the challenges faced by rural consumers in mobile coverage and the limited choice of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), which affect service accessibility.

Robert Hardie from NBN Co. provided an update on the NBN’s future directions post-rollout, while Dan Winson from Zetifi discussed the company’s work on connectivity solutions that support effective emergency response and public hotspot accessibility.

Harriet Mellish from AgriFutures shared the vision for the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries, outlining key focus areas for the next five years.

Peter Runcie from the NSW Smart Sensing Network presented new opportunities for affordable sensing and translating data into valuable solutions for the economy, environment, and society. He highlighted the “Smart Cool Places” initiative, which addresses heat vulnerability at a precinct scale.

The day also featured a perspective from Superintendent Roger Orr on emergency services and connectivity, and a facilitated discussion with representatives from various Mobile Network Operators, including NSWTA, TPG, Optus, and Telstra. This discussion explored the biggest challenges and opportunities for telecom in regional NSW, the impact of 5G and new satellite technologies, and the future outlook for regional connectivity.