Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce survey shows 42 per cent on local businesses find telco services ‘poor’

The South West’s main business body has revealed businesses in the region are struggling with ‘poor’ telecommunication services.

A survey answered by 26 members of the Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce found a 42 per cent thought their services were ‘poor’, while another 46 per cent though services were only ‘OK’.

The results were revealed by chamber chief executive Julie Broad in her virtual appearance in front of the Federal Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts last month as it conducts an inquiry into regional mobile infrastructure.

Ms Broad said the respondents represented “a diverse range” of industries in the region.

“These results indicate that a significant portion of businesses in our region are dissatisfied with the current state of telecommunications infrastructure,” she said.

In all, 88 per cent of respondents said the lack of reliable communications had made it difficult to talk to customers and suppliers, with up to 80 per cent experiencing issues including limited mobile coverage and slow internet speeds.

Ms Broad said the challenges had led to “tangible consequences” for members.

“Decreased productivity, loss of income and customer dissatisfaction were commonly cited outcomes of an inadequate telecommunications infrastructure,” she said.

While some businesses had tried to switch providers, add backup options or reduce their internet reliance to combat these issues, others had taken alternative options including the Starlink internet service offered by American billionaire Elon Musk.

Ms Broad acknowledged government-funded programs including the Mobile Black Spot Program had helped improve the situation.

“However, our survey findings also indicate that there is still much more work to be done, particularly in our region,” she said.

Ms Broad said chamber members believed government, providers and businesses must work together to address the issues.

“The proposed collaborative efforts could include more cell and fixed wireless towers, installing fibre-to-fibre business, increasing market competition and incentivising telecommunications carriers to invest in regional areas,” she said.

Committee member Zoe Daniel asked whether the chamber would consider doing any research to support the expansion of mobile networks, which Ms Broad said members would likely support.

Chair Brian Mitchell asked Ms Broad what was the most important recommendation the committee could make to the Federal Government.

She said a region-by-region analysis on telecommunications issues needs to be conducted.

“Do a gaps analysis of each of the regions, according to the issues that each has, and make sure that government is willing to discuss that,” Ms Broad said.