How Australia's Digital Backbone Powers Remote Work Success

The Foundation of Modern Connectivity

Australia's prosperity has always depended on connection: to each other, to markets, and to opportunity. Today, that connection is digital. Behind every video call, every online transaction, and every remote classroom sits a backbone of infrastructure built and maintained by the telecommunications industry.

It's easy to take for granted, but without decades of investment by telcos such as TPG Telecom, Australia's digital economy simply wouldn't exist.

The Pandemic Pivot and Ongoing Investment

During the past few years, our industry has invested billions to keep Australians connected and productive. During the pandemic, when the nation shifted overnight to remote work and online learning, it was telco infrastructure that kept the economy moving. That commitment hasn't slowed. In fact, it's accelerating, particularly in mobile.

Australia's mobile networks are among the best in the world. Independent research ranks us eighth globally for network excellence, second only to South Korea outside Europe. That's not luck; it's the result of the ongoing investments we make to keep Australians connected.

In the past year alone, mobile operators have added thousands of new sites and upgraded thousands more to 5G.

Network Sharing: A Game-Changer for Regional Communities

At TPG Telecom, our network-sharing agreement with Optus more than doubled our mobile coverage footprint, boosting our reach to more than one million square kilometres. This has been a game-changer for regional communities, delivering better service, more choice and stronger competition without duplicating infrastructure or wasting taxpayer dollars.

Network sharing is smart economics and smart policy. It ensures Australians in rural and remote areas enjoy the same connectivity benefits as those in our cities. And as we look ahead to 6G and direct-to-device satellite services, these partnerships will be critical to closing the digital divide.

Affordability in an Era of Inflation

While other sectors have passed rising costs onto consumers, telecommunications has done the opposite. In an era of surging inflation – where petrol, groceries, and utilities have all climbed – the cost of telco services has remained flat or even fallen. ABS data shows telco CPI dropping while other essential services have surged.

Think about that for a moment: Australians are getting more coverage, faster speeds, and greater reliability, all for less. In many cases, it's cheaper to use your mobile phone for a month than to park for an hour in Sydney's CBD. That's testament to competition and efficiency in our industry, and it's something we should celebrate.

The Challenge of Over-the-Top Players

This same connectivity also underpins the success of streaming, social media, and app-based services, yet the burden of building and upgrading networks falls entirely on telcos, while global over-the-top players reap the rewards without contributing to the cost.

That imbalance makes it even more important to manage the costs of building networks, starting with spectrum, the invisible airwaves that carry our mobile signals.

Spectrum: The Lifeblood of Connectivity

Spectrum is the lifeblood of connectivity, and renewing licences is critical to maintaining service quality and affordability. Every dollar spent on spectrum is a dollar not spent on towers, fibre, or improving customer service. That's why we need a regulatory framework that keeps spectrum costs fair and predictable.

If spectrum pricing surges, investment slows. And when investment slows, Australia falls behind. We cannot afford that risk, not with AI, automation, and the next generation of mobile technology on the horizon. The decisions we make now will determine whether Australia enters the 6G era as a leader or a laggard.

Smarter Investment for the Future

Setting Australia up for our connected future requires smarter investment programs. Billions in taxpayer dollars and levies paid by telcos have been spent on supporting regional connectivity, including outdated copper lines. These government programs are fragmented and inefficient. Future funding should focus on outcomes, not duplication, to ensure benefits flow to all Australians, not just one network. With satellite to mobile services soon to be a reality for customers in poorly served areas, now is the perfect time for a rethink.

A Call for Collaboration

Telcos have done the heavy lifting to build world-class networks. We've innovated, collaborated, and invested billions to keep Australians connected. But we can't do it alone. Government and industry must work together to create a policy environment that supports continued investment, encourages infrastructure sharing, and ensures spectrum costs remain sustainable.

Connectivity is not a luxury; it's the foundation of modern life. It powers businesses, enables education, and drives productivity. Backing Australia means backing the networks that connect us and the industry that builds them.

Iñaki Berroeta is CEO and managing director of TPG Telecom.