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ATUG 2008 Regional Communications Roadshow

For 27 years, ATUG has worked with industry and government to meet the needs of end users, as their focus has shifted from:

• well priced, reliable fixed voice services to mobile voice services,
• enterprise only data services to broadband for everyone,
• fixed network connectivity to wireless connectivity,
• the two network (voice and data) paradigm to the converged IP platform,
• voice communications to text to video communications

ATUG’s vision is for regional Australian telecommunications users to have access to competitively priced, innovative, quality communication services that improve government services, community life and business outcomes.

ATUG have been working to achieve this vision since 2003 by building awareness of services and information available amongst regional users through our Regional Communications Roadshow, communicating and facilitating our findings of their needs to industry and government.

ATUG’s 2008 project objectives include;
To identify issues of interest to regional users of communications services through workshop discussions with relevant stakeholders
To inform and educate regional users and their representative organisations about telecommunications issues, which may include (by way of example only) availability of services, applications of services, pricing, switching processes and service quality, e-security, complaint handling and escalation.
To represent the issues to the Government, regulators (the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and self-regulatory bodies in telecommunications.
To foster industry awareness of telecommunications issues of relevance to regional broadband users
To ensure government and industry policy developments reflect issues of interest to regional broadband users

To date the total number of regional centres visited by ATUG from the first pilot in late 2003 held in Dubbo is 56, travelling in total 75,822 kilometers and speaking with nearly 2,000 people.

Towns and dates

History of the ATUG Regional Roadshow
Since 2002 ATUG has had a particular focus on ensuring regional areas have access to the latest communications platforms at affordable prices. ATUG has represented the interests of end users directly to politicians, policy makers and regulators to develop policies, targeted funding, and good co-ordination between layers of government to achieve better outcomes for regional users.

ATUG’s vision is for regional Australian telecommunications users to have access to competitively priced, innovative, quality communications services that improve government services, community life and business outcomes.

ATUG has worked with government on specific initiatives to improve communications access and online services. Issues have included broadband for health, teleworking, broadband demand aggregation in regional communities, new solutions for “first mile” access, Voice over IP and e-security for transactions.

ATUG has worked with industry – both equipment vendors and service operators – to keep up to date with technology, market needs and solution developments.

ATUG has provided independent information to the end user community on companies, products and services, using case studies to reach behind the marketing material to the real experiences and benefits of the latest communications solutions.

During the foundation of the ATUG Road Shows in 2003 the below listed objectives were set and are still central to our growing vision:

• To create awareness for business and home internet users in regional areas aware of broadband internet technology, its applications and how to use it more effectively.
• To inform users of the government funding schemes available in regional areas.
• To facilitate the meeting of community members with representatives from broadband internet suppliers and statutory authorities.
• To provide local people unbiased information that will help them to make informed decisions about obtaining a Broadband service.

In 2006

The third ATUG Regional Road Show, ‘Communications Making a Difference’, was held in a further nine regional centres over two months starting in July 2006. This makes the total number of regional centres visited from the first pilot in late 2003 held in Dubbo to 43, travelling in total 54,489 kilometres and speaking with 1,839 people.

The objective for the ATUG 2006 Regional Broadband Roadshow was to provide information to end users, key local influencers and decision makers in Australian states about the developments and opportunities of converged communications.

In 2006, the theme of ATUG’s Regional Roadshow ‘Communications Making a Difference’ has shifted from availability and awareness to use and application. This year’s focus was on the benefits and services that next generation networks can deliver – health services, government services, teleworking, e-commerce, e-security, community group working, and voice over IP.

In 2007

2007 marked ATUG’s fourth Regional Road Show, ‘Communications Making a Difference’ visited a further 13 regional centres. The Road Show took 2.5 months to complete with its beginnings in Kadina on 27 June finishing in Cooma on 13 September. This takes the total number of regional centres visited from the first pilot in late 2003 held in Dubbo to 56, travelling in total 75,822 kilometers and speaking with nearly 2,000 people.

In 2007, the theme of ATUG’s Regional Roadshow ‘Communications Making a Difference’ covered technology, application and education in the changing ICT landscape. This year delegates were interested in learning of new technologies becoming more readily available in their regions such as 3G, WiMAX, WiFi, fibre, satellite and BPL. Ways of delivering these services and the benefits that they lend to, such as triple play were key to discussions.

ATUG were pleased this year to have sponsors on board who were able to provide delegates with the whole picture. Funding announcements were clearly outlined through DCITA representation, State Governments were then able to speak locally of projects and future direction while vendors and service providers were able to offer technical explanations and business/home examples.

As in 2007 the 2008 theme of ATUG’s Regional Roadshow will again be “Communications Making a Difference”. The focus will again remain on the benefits and services that next generation networks can deliver – health services, government services, teleworking, e-commerce, e-security, community group working, and voice over IP.

ATUG will again provide information to end users, key local influencers and decision makers in all Australian states about the developments and opportunities of converged communications – computing, connectivity and content:

• business efficiency, productivity and growth,
• effective and valued government services in health, education and social services
• delivery of services to and from the “digital home”
• more effective community groups

ATUG is excited by the prospect of working with our sponsors in 2008 to promote the availability and use of the latest communications technologies to communities throughout regional Australia.

Last updated 3-Dec-2008