3/4/01
Pilbara Minister Tom Stephens said that untimed local call access to the Internet would soon be available to all residents of the Pilbara region.
"The new service will allow residents in towns such as Marble Bar and Nullagine, pastoral stations and remote Aboriginal communities to gain access to the Internet using a standard 22 cent untimed local call to either Karratha Internet Support Services or Telstra Big Pond," Mr Stephens said.
Previously, people in these locations had to pay STD phone charges of over $4 an hour to connect to the Internet.
Mr Stephens praised the efforts of the Pilbara Development Commission in obtaining the new service for the region.
"The commission has undertaken substantial work to successfully obtain funding for the project from the Federal Government's Networking the Nation program as well as working with telecommunications carriers and local Internet Service Providers to ensure the best outcome for the region," the Minister said.
The commission underwent a comprehensive tender process to select the providers of the service with local Internet Service Provider, Karratha Internet Support Services and Telstra Country Wide being the successful bidders.
Karratha Internet Support Services will receive funding to expand its network presence into the eastern part of the region which will allow it to more readily compete with the imminent release of the Telstra Big Pond product.
"Telstra will receive funding for a project which will provide technical support to those wishing to connect to the Internet for the first time," Mr Stephens said.
"This service will be available to all residents in the Pilbara regardless of which Internet Service Provider they choose."
The Pilbara Development Commission will continue to work in partnership with Telstra Country Wide and local companies such as Karratha Internet Support Services to ensure that the region's residents gain access to the same range of telecommunications and Internet services that are available in the city.
Media contact: Julie Cole 9213 6500
