A recent **national audit** has unveiled that many bush communities in Australia are still without **mobile phone and internet coverage**, even as the country rapidly digitizes everyday tasks.

### Current State of Connectivity
The **Closing the Digital Divide project** reports that **half of the 1,505 remote Aboriginal communities** lack mobile phone coverage. This situation poses significant challenges for residents who need online access for **banking, government services,** and **employment opportunities**. 

Despite these challenges, the audit reveals a positive trend: the percentage of people with internet access has risen from **74% in 2022 to 86%**. Lead researcher **Daniel Featherstone** notes that while there are advancements like **wi-fi mesh networks**, many residents still rely solely on mobile phones.

![A man sits at a desk pointing at a tablet device while two Aboriginal women look on.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/9490eae2c3cbaf7a3465aaf7425be552?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=853&cropW=1280&xPos=0&yPos=25&width=862&height=575)
*Dr. Featherstone has been surveying remote community residents about their telecommunications options since 2021.*

### Barriers to Digital Inclusion
The **rising cost of living** has been identified as a significant barrier, with **73% of respondents** admitting to cutting back on essentials to afford connectivity. The **digital divide** highlights the stark contrast between those with the resources to access the internet and those without, particularly affecting remote Aboriginal communities.

### Emergency Situations and Digital Access
The lack of reliable telecommunications can be dangerous. Reports to the federal government indicate that **emergency calls** cannot be made when connectivity fails, posing serious risks to safety. The **Torres Shire Council** has emphasized the urgent need to address this issue.

### Proposed Solutions
In response, the federal government is launching the **First Nations Digital Inclusion Roadmap**, which outlines a long-term strategy to improve connectivity. This plan includes **30 recommendations** aimed at enhancing **training, expanding public wi-fi**, and improving the resilience of communication infrastructure. 

![The First Nations Digital Inclusion Roadmap recommends expanding free public wi-fi networks and improving the resilience of communications infrastructure.](https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/5b57540f28e990d26042d3aa5f00b835?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=4000&cropW=6000&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=575)
*The government is investing $68 million to rollout Sky Muster satellite wi-fi in over 20 remote Aboriginal communities.*

These days, just about everything is being done online. But new research highlights how hard that's making life for thousands of Australians still living without phone and internet.

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