CONNECTIVITY LITERACY

What is it and why is it important?

Many rural, regional, and remote (RRR) Australians are expected to navigate a complex telecommunications landscape just to get and stay connected. In 2019, Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia (BIRRR) coined the term Connectivity Literacy to describe this burden.

Connectivity Literacy is the ability to be aware of, understand, choose, and optimise connectivity options. It involves knowing what technologies are available at your location, understanding how they work, selecting a provider, plan and equipment that suits your needs and budget, knowing how to troubleshoot and get help with your connection and understanding your rights as a consumer.

But this isn’t something most people can or should be expected to learn on their own.

For many years, regional Australians have had limited choice, often just one provider or technology. Now, with the growing number of new technologies, more providers, and a flood of promotional content online, the situation has become even more confusing. Plans are often complex, marketing can be misleading, and key information is buried in fine print or clouded by misinformation across telcos, social media, and the media more broadly.

Importantly, being digitally literate (knowing how to use a device or navigate the internet) does not mean someone is connectivity literate, and vice versa. While there are many programs to help people build digital skills, there is very little practical support to help people make informed, confident decisions about connectivity itself. The telecommunications industry often assumes a high level of consumer knowledge, yet many products and services are not designed with real-world users in mind.

At BIRRR, we’re a small team of volunteers doing what we can to support consumers through education, resources, and advocacy. But we can’t do it alone.

That’s why we encourage you to share our Connectivity Literacy infographic and connect people with the Regional Tech Hub , a free, independent service that can help you or someone you know understand what voice and broadband options are available, and which ones best suit their needs and budget.

Everyone has different priorities when it comes to connectivity, just as we all have different preferences for food or clothing. Not everyone wants or needs the same thing, and that’s OK. But right now, telcos are doing a poor job of supporting people through this decision-making process. We’re working to change that.

💡 Help us build awareness.
📣 Help us shift the narrative.
✅ Help us educate the media, industry, and communities, so that the lived experience of RRR Australians is accurately represented and respected.

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