Active participation in a digital society
Communities and businesses rely on connectivity as an essential utility for everyday life. This has become even greater following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased shift to digital government service delivery. Digital services have shifted from a channel of convenience to a key enabler of broader social and economic benefits. Digital inclusion is critical to allow all parts of society to have rich digital experiences, from essential government services to social interactions. Communities and businesses need meaningful digital connectivity wherever they live, work or play in NSW.
All customers have metropolitan equivalent digital connectivity
In practice, this should mean:
- Remote, rural and peri-urban communities can access and effectively use digital systems and services for employment, justice, education, health, social, personal and entertainment use.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have equitable access to connectivity that meets their local community needs.
- Connectivity services are affordable for individuals no matter where they live, with access to a choice of providers.
Connectivity blackspots continually decrease across the state
In practice, this should mean:
- Customers can utilise key digital services on major transport corridors, in tourist destinations and in public spaces across NSW.
- High-speed connectivity is in place to enable digitisation across the Six Cities region.
- Innovative and next generation connectivity technologies are piloted and tested across NSW, with innovation districts and commercial hubs serving as catalysts, to develop world-leading solutions to common problems.
Case studies
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Connecting people with places and digital on regional rail
Getting people to the places they want to go is the foundation of rail connectivity and ensuring people can connect digitally while travelling is an important part of the experience.
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Closing the digital divide for remote and rural schools
To be ready for the jobs of tomorrow, school students must be digitally literate today, which relies on school environments having digital infrastructure in place.