Rural & Regional Transformation via Broadband & Mobile Network Connectivity

1. Rural & Regional Transformation via Broadband & Mobile Network Connectivity MAV Rural & Regional Planning Conference 2017 29-30 June 2017

2. Introduction & Overview Broadband Coverage to Premises in Rural & Regional Victoria Mobile Network Coverage in Rural & Regional Victoria Growing Demand for Infrastructure for 4G, IoT and 5G Network Infrastructure & “IoT” – not just about connecting the fridge IoT - unlocking Economic Growth in Rural and Regional Areas Autonomous vehicles – importance of 5G mobile network infrastructure Health and the importance of network connectivity Education and the importance of network connectivity Emergency services and the importance of network connectivity Government response to the need for network infrastructure Local Government’s interface with broadband – A look into the future

3. Broadband Coverage to Premises in Rural & Regional Victoria Government Statement of Expectations on nbn deployment • 100% of premises will have access to the National Broadband Network by 2020 • nbn to provide peak wholesale download data rate s of at least 25 megabits per second to all premises, and at least 50 megabits per second to 90 per cent of fixed line premises as soon as possible. nbn Skymuster Satellite (remote areas and fixed wireless coverage holes) • A top speed tier of 25 Mbps download/5Mbps upload (data cap doubled last week) nbn Fixed Wireless (smaller towns and rural residential areas) • Currently a top speed tier of 50/20Mbps (100/40Mbps in 2018) then 5G nbn Fixed Broadband (Cities, Regional Centres and some larger towns) • Top speed tier 100/40Mbps, but most people opting for 25/5Mbps plan

4. Status of nbn Broadband Coverage (to premises) in Victoria • In all 29 per cent of Australia’s population lives outside of the major cities. • These homes and businesses will be served by: • Fixed line (62 per cent) • Fixed Wireless (19 per cent) • Satellite (12 per cent)

5. Mobile Network Coverage in Rural & Regional Victoria According to ACMA, at June 2016: • Telstra’s 4G network covered 98 per cent of the population. It is anticipated to increase to 99 per cent by the end of June 2017. • Optus’s 4G network was available to 95 per cent of the population, up from 90 per cent over the previous year. • Vodafone’s 4G network reached more than 96 per cent of the population, How tough is it to cover the last few percent of Australia’s population? • Telstra’s network covers 2.3 million square kilometres (98% of population), while Optus' network covers about 1 million square kilometres (95% of population).

6. Status of Telstra Mobile Network Coverage in Victoria

7. The Future - Growing Demand for Infrastructure for 4G, IoT and 5G • Mobile data traffic in ASEAN (Oceania) to grow 11-fold by 2022 • This is fuelled by growing adoption of 4G services, and the internet of things (IoT) • So what stands between today’s 4G networks and the 5G networks of the future? In a word: infrastructure. • 5G depends on the deployment of an overlay of thousands of “small cell,” antennas on everything from light posts and buildings, to street signs and traffic lights.

8. Network Infrastructure & “IoT” – not just about connecting the fridge “The step up to 5G will mean more speed, but 5G is much more than just faster speeds. It will also underpin the coming of age of the Internet of Things, billions of connected devices that will enable a fully connected and interactive world, which includes new possibilities in areas such as fully connected homes, offices and factories, autonomous vehicles and remote health care.” (Source: Andrew Penn, Telstra’s Chief Executive)

9. IoT - unlocking Economic Growth in Rural and Regional Areas • GPS services, sensors and big data, will all become essential farming tools in the coming years and are clearly set to revolutionise agriculture to become “precision agriculture” • Smart farming will have a significant impact including: fleet management of farm vehicles, arable farming, monitoring livestock, indoor farming and greenhouses, fish farming, forestry, storage and water monitoring • 4G & 5G network connectivity underpins the ability to achieve this.

10. Economic Growth Case Study - nbn Fixed Wireless in Derby • In April 2017 the nbn network (a new tower) was critical to the town of Derby in hosting the prestigious Tasmania Enduro World Series mountain biking event. • This event included 2000 competitors and a sizeable media contingent. • Gigabytes and gigabytes of footage were being captured and pushed out on an hourly basis. • The media needed fast internet connectivity, especially uploading video and high definition images – this was a pre-requisite to hosting such an event.

11. Autonomous vehicles – importance of 5G mobile network infrastructure Will we be driving?: • “By 2030, you won’t be driving and probably won’t own a car” (Source: Hugh Bradlow, Telstra Chief Scientist, 29 July 2016) • Served by on-demand, autonomous, electric vehicles that will be owned by fleets rather than by you. • Predictions are that by 2030, 40 percent of cars will still be privately owned, but they will only account for 5% of kilometres travelled The role of networks: • In the short term, 4G networks will possibly play a role in allowing autonomous vehicles to operate in regional/rural areas. Satellite, short range communications based upon wi-fi and future 5G connectivity will then be critical.

12. Future Case Study - Autonomous Vehicles & Wine Regions. • Within 10 years, fit-for-purpose autonomous vehicles will open up new business models while at the same time drastically increasing safety - a win-win situation for wineries and customers alike. • These vehicles will be designed to accommodate groups touring wine regions – learning about the wineries and winemakers prior to arriving at the winery. • 5G or Narrowband-IoT networks with ultra-low-latency connectivity will be required in rural and regional areas to achieve this – an investment that’s well worth it.

13. Health and the importance of network connectivity • Online consultations rather than to face-to-face meetings – increasing with nbn • Wearables can improve healthcare management • Online central repository of medical records to improve healthcare • Telehealth Medicare Benefits management (eligible if 15 km by road between a patient and a specialist/physician) • Relies upon both mobile and fixed broadband enabled devices and connectivity • “Whatever technology is employed in rural and remote Australia, it must be able to deliver broadband services that meet two-way applications for eHealth and tele-health, medical education, videoconferencing, VoIP and other applications” (Source AMA submission to USO inquiry)

14. Education and the importance of network connectivity Emerging technology education tools • 3D Printers • Games and Apps (especially when teaching coding) • Remote Schooling • Internet of Things (Whiteboards/Seesaw App etc) Coming technology education tools • Virtual reality • Augmented reality

15. Emergency Services and the importance of network connectivity • Mobile phones now account for around 63 per cent of calls made to Triple Zero (000) (source: ACMA, 2016) • Recent upgrades to the Triple Zero service made by mobile carriers and emergency services enabled improved location information to be automatically provided about the location of a mobile caller to Triple Zero. • In future, sensors and video technology will be central to monitor and manage major events, traffic safety and allow improved emergency responsiveness.

16. How is Government responding to the need for network infrastructure? Federal • Mobile Blackspots - Rounds 1 & 2 underway, Round 3 - 125 national “Priority Locations” have been announced. • Regulatory Reform – Legislation, Spectrum Allocation, Low-Impact Determination changes State • Infrastructure Victoria - 30 year infrastructure strategy seeks to leverage existing State assets to partner with industry. • Mobile blackspots – some additional targeted co-funding, and some planning exemptions (3rd party VCAT appeals).  • A Code of Practice for Telecommunications Facilities (incorporated document) drafted in 1999 (when 2G was being deployed) and reissued with no changes in 2004. Totally inadequate for 4G and 5G and counterproductive to Council, Community and Industry objectives. Local • Mobile blackspots – some additional targeted co-funding from Councils • Some previous attempts at Local Policies (Yarra Ranges) and some current work (Melton) • Advocacy – Councils promoting the nbn/mobile networks, working with nbn and mobile network carriers, and making submissions to government to highlight opportunities

17. What does local advocacy for network infrastructure look like? Mansfield Shire’s Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on the NBN (March 2017) states: • “All properties within the residential and business zones of the Mansfield Township should be connected to the FTTN network”. • “The urban density is the same in the areas scheduled for FTTN and for Fixed Wireless - typically blocks < 1000m2 in size. We consider that the appropriate delivery is for all properties in the Mansfield planning scheme’s general residential zone to receive FTTN”.

18. What does local advocacy for network infrastructure look like? “At the Ordinary Council meeting on 23 March, 2016, Council agreed to consider a contribution of $50,000 from its 2016/17 budget towards resolving mobile phone blackspots in the Shire”.  “In 2014 Council undertook a register for telecommunications, mobile and internet connectivity throughout the shire. Over 650 responses were received and the impact of these black spots measured and presented in the report”

19. What does local advocacy for network infrastructure look like? “I would encourage all residents to consider the broader benefits of the new infrastructure, which will support those studying or working from home, help local businesses to thrive, and protect community safety during emergencies”. Macedon Ranges Mayor Cr Hackett

20. Local Government’s interface with broadband – A look into the future What might we find on an Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda in 10 years time? • Planning Permit Applications for small cell mobile network towers? • Planning compliance via drone measurement? • Planning Application for an Uber/Lyft Didi Chuxing Autonomous Vehicle Charging Station? • Referral for Extractive Industry for a Lithium Mine & Battery Farm? • Progress Report from Council’s Chief Data Scientist on % of Council Open Data? • A Report from Council’s Tree Sensor Network on the health, growth rate and water usage of Council’s 10,000 trees? • A Report from the Economic Development Manager from the Town Centre Sensor Network on foot traffic over the past month? • Annual Review of Council’s Technology Agility Strategy? • A Report from the Economic Development Manager on % municipality’s roads covered by 5G? • A Report from the Chief Advocate - Lobbying for 5G Mobile Blackspot Funding Round 10? • A Report from the Human Services Manager on Maternal and Child Health Auto Triage via Wearables? • A Report from Council’s Waste Sensor Network on reduction of waste to landfill and progress towards closed loop recycling? What’s common to many of these is that broadband and mobile network infrastructure is required.

21. Thanks Matt Evans, Evans Planning matt@evansplanning.com.au https://twitter.com/MattEvansMelb