Programme connects Australia’s First Nations communities

The project, delivered by Easyweb via WBA members Encapto and Cambium Networks, is focused on delivering place-based telecommunications infrastructure to improve digital connectivity across remote communities in Central Australia. Residents of these small communities are highly mobile, regularly travelling 300-500km round trips to neighbouring communities or Alice Springs, to visit family, participate in sports or cultural events, or access essential services.

“In the past, people in these towns could walk for a whole day to check their bank balance or access e-government services,” said Darryl Clarke, CEO of Easyweb Digital. “This OpenRoaming solution will deliver an all-in-one solution for these previously forgotten people to gain easy and secure online access in any local community. As we grow our OpenRoaming coverage across the region, people will be able to connect wherever they go – so they’ll never have to plan their day around where they’ll be connecting.”

“Providing free connectivity to residents in these communities is a critical first step in enabling them to access the services they need”

He added: “Providing connectivity to these regions has been notoriously challenging in the past, due to their remoteness, high levels of social disadvantage, and low levels of digital literacy.

“For First Nations communities, smartphones are the primary way of accessing online services, but in the past connectivity has been slow, unreliable, and expensive. Providing free connectivity to residents in these communities is a critical first step in enabling them to access the services they need.”

OpenRoaming allows users with varying technical skills to easily move between different wifi and cellular networks through a profile installed on their mobile device, which automatically authenticates them while ensuring the highest standards of security and data privacy. By allowing users to automatically connect to the nearest Community Wi-Fi Hub without repeated logins, OpenRoaming will provide uninterrupted connectivity.

Promoting new digital skills

Voice over wifi is a particularly important feature in this region, where communities such as Haasts Bluff/Ikuntji and Nturiya have no cellular service. In future, Easyweb Digital hopes to support the development of educational resources and training programmes to promote new digital skills in these communities, as well as developing a helpline and a smartphone app to support its wifi customers.

The deployment of Community Wi-Fi Hubs with OpenRoaming is based on Cambium Networks XV2-2T0 outdoor Wi-Fi APs and XV2-21X indoor APs, Encapto software, and Easyweb managing and deploying the end-to-end solution, which includes solar-powered cabinets and mesh network backhaul for continuity of service, using GEO and LEO satellites.

The mesh capability means these networks can also be cost-effectively scaled through the installation of simple nodes to deliver premium-grade wifi to community halls, health centres, schools, and other public buildings. In addition, the Encapto platform enables mesh networks to be extended to in-the-home wifi services using a freemium model that ensures free access to basic services, and commercialisation opportunities for premium levels of connectivity.

WBA is the global organisation that connects people with the latest wifi initiatives. The WBA board comprises organisations such as Airties, AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Boldyn Networks, Broadcom, BT, Charter Communications, Cisco Systems, Comcast, HFCL, Intel, Reliance Jio, Telecom Deutschland, and Turk Telekom.