MODERATOR: What lessons can you share with the world about how Australia has tackled investment to make sure digital transformation is for everyone, including those in remote or underserved communities?

MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND SPORT ANIKA WELLS:  Thank you Sade, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNDP for hosting this excellent event. 

In 2025, connectivity is not a nice to have - it's a necessity. No matter where you live, or what you do, people need to connect - whether it’s so you can work from home, run your business, seek help in an emergency, or a stay in touch with the people you love. But that can be challenging in a unique continent like Australia.  Australia is the world’s largest island - the sixth biggest country on earth. But our vast nation holds just three and a half people per square kilometre, one of the lowest population densities in the world. This combination ensures connection is an evergreen challenge.

So what has the Australian Government done to tackle that challenge? We have invested in services and infrastructure to make sure no one is held back, and no one is held behind. First, we have our National Broadband Network - also known as the NBN. Created in 2009, the National Broadband Network is a publicly-owned wholesale-only open access data network that delivers high speed broadband services to households and businesses across Australia. This is critical digital infrastructure that impacts the lives of Australians every day. Close to 80% of all internet data in Australia is transferred through the NBN. 

We know how important this service is which is why we want to be able to reach more people. That's why last month I had the pleasure of announcing a new agreement between the NBN and Amazon's Project Kuiper, to deliver high-speed, low latency LEOSat broadband to Australians living outside our fixed line and fixed wireless footprint.

This is not the only way we are supporting people in remote communities with access and connectivity. The Australian Government has announced a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation - or UOMO.  UOMO means outdoor mobile coverage will be accessible almost anywhere Australians can see the sky. It will require mobile operators to provide reasonable access to mobile voice and text outdoors almost everywhere across Australia, through a combination of terrestrial and LEOSat networks.

But there is always more work to be done to make sure the system is working for those that need it most.

My departure from Australia to the UN was delayed because of serious failures from one of Australia's main telecommunications providers, Optus. Failures which saw hundreds of Australians unable to reach emergency services through our 000 phone line - Australia's equivalent of 911. I am now considering how to ensure this never happens again, including further legislative and regulatory reform. Ensuring our systems are working and our operators are performing is work that will always be ongoing.

Going forward, access and affordability require a collective effort and this year’s review of the World Summit on the Information Society and the ongoing work of the ITU – to which Australia is proud to be a candidate for re-election– is important to reinvigorate our work to close this digital divide.

MODERATOR: In one minute, what does Digital for Good mean to Australia?

WELLS Digital for Good means connection to your friends, your family, health and education services, and opportunities - no matter where you live. Australia is using the National Broadband Network’s satellite services to provide free Wi-Fi to remote First Nations communities, where some of our most disadvantaged Australians live. This program is already making life-changing impacts in remote communities around Australia, for example, community leaders from Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia - a community over 2,500 kilometres from its state capital - have reported an anecdotal decrease in crime, increase in school attendance and improved ability to access online services.