Communities who have lost mobile and internet connectivity during natural disasters are being encouraged to share their stories, as the NSW Government launches the first of its new Community Connectivity Kits.
The Community Connectivity Project is designed to better understand the challenges faced by people when connectivity is lost before, during, and after natural disasters and how it impacts access to recovery support.
NSW Telco Authority is leading research to inform the delivery of better and more reliable communications for communities during emergencies.
Anyone who has been impacted by a natural disaster in recent years is encouraged to share their experiences by 26 May 2025 The survey can be found online at https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/community-connectivity-research-project
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said mobile and internet connectivity plays a critical role in keeping people safe and informed.
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“However, the reality is telecommunication networks are often damaged or destroyed during natural disasters and this can have a devastating impact on communities," he said.
“The Community Connectivity Project is about strengthening our response and making it easier for people to remain connected with loved ones, ensuring they have access to critical information and support."
It's just what happened in Eugowra on 14 November 2022, Telstra explaining at the time that the local exchange was lifted off its footings by the force of the water.
A Cell on Wheels had to be brought in to restore mobile services, with landline and internet services then connected to a larger Mobile Exchange on Wheels unit.
Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the new kits could be deployed quickly to ensure emergency information remained accessible.
“The ongoing research and pilot testing with the connectivity kits will help build a clear picture of how connectivity loss impacts communities, so we can strengthen telecommunications resilience and support disaster recovery more effectively and sustainably," she said.
There are to be 20 portable Community Connectivity Kits, which can be rapidly deployed in a disaster to help people stay connected and access support.
The portable kits are battery-powered, equipped with satellite wi-fi, and can be set up in under 15 minutes.
The first five kits are ready for delivery and testing in coming months.
The connectivity kits will complement the Telco Authority’s existing fleet of broadband ‘Cells on Wheels’, which were recently deployed to evacuation centres across Northern NSW during Cyclone Alfred.
