Tourism is great for the economy but not so great for our 4G networks. With the increase in tourists using 4G internet whilst they’re here, can we come up with a solution that benefits our guests and our own? Network congestion is real at peak times, but there’s 3 groups who are tackling the problem.
Tourists LOVE Australia
Although many of us like to complain about tourists, it’s clear that people worldwide want to come to our great nation and enjoy some of our exotic animals, sandy beaches, and gorgeous sun!
And when they come, they spend! Tourists bring around $150 billion to the Australian economy each year. And this money supports 300,000 businesses and 660,000 jobs. Altogether, tourism accounts for 3.1% of the Australian economy. Although, I’m not 100% sure what counts as “tourism money”. For example, if a tourist buys a loaf of bread, does the money he contributes count as “tourism money”? But that’s beside the point. Tourism is a big business over here.
How tourism impacts mobile data networks
All 4G and 5G networks have limited bandwidth. The more people using them at a time, the slower they are. And although there is plenty of bandwidth for the Australian population, adding more people can impact the speed at which people can connect to 4 and 5G.
Ms Gleeson, who provides tours at a lighthouse, says her online booking system runs on mobile data. When visitor numbers get high, the mobile data bands before clogged, and everyone has to cope with slow internet access.
Across Australia, slow internet is a problem at peak times. And many areas, such as Melbourne’s surf coast, have grey spots where coverage is so slow that it may not be there. This impacts businesses that rely on 4G networks for their credit card machines.
People always get surprised whenever the machines go down due to a bad connection. They don’t realise how vital 4G is for many Aussie businesses. And with cash becoming less common, a stable internet connection is more essential than ever.
Government Solutions
The government is starting to realise just how big an issue this is. Communications Minister Michelle Rowlands says that the maps Telcos put out to boast about their coverage often don’t reflect users’ experience. And she has announced a $20 million audit to test mobile range nationwide. To see how good the internet is for Australians and tourists alike.
Mr Leaney, the chair of Peri-Urban Councils Victoria, says the federal government must include the aforementioned “Grey Spots” in this audit. Even if Telcos can provide 4G coverage to 99% of Australians, factors such as increased population, weather, and the number of devices all contribute to the strength and reliability of any 4G network.
One business owner’s solution
Simon Duck owns a hotel in Gippsland. His hotel pub will only have 200-300 people during the week. But, at the weekend, it can have up to 3000 people. His solution for dealing with the increased data usage has been to install his own satellite and use that to provide internet for people in his pub. And he’s come up with a rather innovative solution.
This only works because he can afford it, which many other business owners can’t.
Telco Solutions.
The two main players, Telstra and Optus, have both recognised how severe this issue is. Ms Gray (Telstra’s general manager) has announced that a new 4/5G station will be built on the busy Noojee Belt.
And Optus is also adding more towers across the country. Whether this will be sufficient is yet to be determined.
Conclusion
Tourism is vital for Australia’s economy. And to be honest, I can understand why they want to come here- we have a lot to offer! But, as more of them are now using 4G as they travel around the country, and that same 4G is needed by the Australians who make their experience so memorable, it’s clear that Telcos and governments (at all levels) need to work together to come up with solutions. It’s not enough that 98% of Aussies have access to 4G internet; we need this coverage to be stable and able to withstand being used by multiple devices at once.