Rural Communication Infrastructure Jock Graham 2015 Nuffield Scholar

Acknowledgements • Grain Research and Development Corporation for being my sponsor • James and Jim Graham for running our family business whilst away on the Nuffield adventure • Kate, Sophie and Eliza for undertaking the journey with me

Background • Live and work on a family farm near Gundagai, NSW with my brother James and father Jim • Mixed farming enterprises – Angus Cattle, Merino ewes / fat lambs, dryland cropping, contracting and quarry operations • Interests in technology and its application to improve agricultural efficiency

Nuffield Travel • Identified various agricultural issues as well as my own topic • Travelled to China, Philippines, Canada, USA, Ireland, UK, France, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Singapore • Fantastic adventure, international issues and cultures

Rural Communication Infrastructure • Identify the current state of broadband connectivity in rural areas domestically and internationally. • Identify key technologies available to provide high speed broadband to rural areas • Key technologies available to improve mobile coverage • New technologies available with the use of high speed internet connectivity.

Understanding Connectivity •

Download speeds – Measures speed of a megabit to be received on your computer, typically rural Australia average less than 5mbps currently

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Upload Speed – Measures speed of a megabit transmitted from your computer, typically rural Australia average less than 2 mbps

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Latency – is the time in milliseconds that is takes for data to be transferred from point A to B. Fibre, copper or wireless average between 10-50 and satellite 600-800ms.

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Mbps – Megabits per second. 8 megabits make up a megabyte

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MB/s – Megabyte per second. 1 megabyte = 8 megabits, computer files

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Jitter – The amount of dropped packets of data that are originally sent

How we compare

•Australian Results •45% < 2 mbps •26% 2-5 mbps

•Source: Nuffield Internet survey June 2015, 350 respondents

Rural Broadband Options • Fixed Wireless (NBN) – low latency, high speed, line of sight 14km, large data allowance • Fixed Wireless (Private networks) – low latency, low cost, line of sight coverage 15km, unlimited data, customisable • 3G / 4G mobile coverage – low latency, great coverage, expensive data, congestion problems • NBN Satellite – high latency, data restrictions, available in remote locations, high speed • Fibre – Best option if available, low latency, high speed, unlimited data capacity • Future options – Li-Fi, balloons, unmanned aircraft, lasers and low earth orbit satellites

Mobile Improvement Options • There are two key technologies available to improve in-home mobile coverage • Cel-fi devices (available on any carrier network to boost signal). • Femtocell device (offered by Optus) • Voice over Wi-Fi is the new smart phone protocol that allows standard mobile calls to be made over Wi-Fi when mobile service is weak or no signal.

Recommendations • Rural communities deserve better connectivity options • Private fixed wireless networks should be implemented to source better connectivity options when government / commercial investment is not occurring. Eg Wi-Sky • Mobile coverage can be improved by Cel-fi boosting devices (on any network) or a femtocell device (offered by Optus) • Investment in ground based infrastructure will better serve the rural community (fibre to every town) • Further investment needed to facilitate the growth of IoT devices, automated machinery and precision farming

Discussion • Are you happy with your communications infrastructure you currently use? • How much do you value communication infrastructure? Are you willing to let government set the pace? • What do you think can be achieved by fast connectivity in rural areas? • Are satellite services good enough?

Contact details Jock Graham “Bengarra” Coolac, NSW 2727 [email protected] 0408449844 www.wi-sky.com.au