Tasmania

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For the majority of Tasmanian locations, basic telecommunications infrastructure and services are both available and reliable.

Whilst Tasmania's telecommunications capability meets the demands of modern industry, in excess of 90% of the State's infrastructure is owned and controlled by Telstra. Telstra's services are delivered from an advanced core network, which comprises over 90,000km of optic fibre, in excess of 200 exchange sites and the only two operational trunk cables across Bass Strait.

In August 2006, the State Government announced they are seeking a partner to develop the fibre-optic Connect Tasmania network and provide broadband service in competition with Telstra. The Connect Tasmania network includes approximately 500km of backhaul optic fibre and arrangements to link the State to mainland Australia over an exclusive connection via the Basslink optic fibre cable.

The Tasmanian State Government is not a licensed telecommunications carrier and does not plan to be a direct participant in the provision of telecommunications services. The Government plans to own telecommunications infrastructure only until a competitive market is developed for broadband telecommunications services in Tasmania.

Phone

Tasmania has three mobile phone networks. Telstra's CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network had the widest coverage in Tasmania, but was closed down in April 2008.

Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) phone networks in Tasmania. Telstra's GSM network has the broadest coverage, but all three cover the main population centres and some highways, and are equipped with the General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) overlay which provides higher-speed data services.

Optus, Vodafone and Telstra also offer next generation, or 3G technology. 3G networks include support for voice calls, pictures, watching television, video calls & wireless broadband.

Telstra's Next G network was launched in October 2006. This network currently covers 99% of the Australian population. Most population centres in Tasmania are covered fully and other areas in Tasmania are also covered with the use of an external antenna.

Optus and Vodafone have included the State in plans to deploy their next generation, or 3G, networks.

Internet

There is moderate competition in the provision of telecommunications services, such as retailing and provision of data services, based primarily on the use of Telstra's infrastructure.

There are well over 185 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) providing services to Tasmania, both for business and residential communities, with 138 of these also being broadband ISPs. ISP businesses are located in Tasmania and nationally. (source Whirlpool).

Telstra provides leased line, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and digital data services across the State. Optus, AAPT, TasTel and others provide business data services but these tend to be concentrated in metropolitan areas.

Telstra supplies ISDN primary rate broadband and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) services Statewide. There is a limited level of broadband competition line services.

In May 2003, Telstra completed construction of its second undersea optic fibre cable across Bass Strait to meet Tasmania's increasing demand for high-bandwidth data and broadband internet connections.

The State Government is seeking a partner to develop a fibre-optic 'Connect Tasmania' network and provide broadband services in competition with Telstra.

The Tasmanian Government has invested around $30 million to create the Connect Tasmania network, which includes a 420km optic fibre backbone running alongside natural gas pipelines between the North, South and North West regions and arrangements for an exclusive connection to the Basslink optic fibre cable.

The Government has also applied for funding under the Commonwealth's Connect Australia program, which provides funding towards improving regional telecommunications infrastructure.

The existence of the Telstra-independent backbone cables could make a significant difference to the dynamics of the market. The roll-out of optic fibre across Tasmania will deliver wider choice of competitive telecommunications to homes, businesses and schools and provide opportunities for new and emerging industries to expand and innovate. Ultimately this will create a strong competitor in a market currently dominated by Telstra.