A Rural Region´s Use of a Virtual Organisation for Telecommunications Development

Many regional communities around the world have felt increasingly disadvantaged in an era of globalised markets because of their limited access to modern telecommunications, particularly high-speed broadband access to the Internet. The tendency for governments to privatise telecommunications services to companies seeking to maximise returns has resulted in a concentration of services in more profitable urban areas. Not only do rural regions miss out on infrastructure, but also the knowledge and skills associated with its use. Some communities have sought to improve their telecommunications by putting pressure on government, while others have initiated programs by creating virtual telecommunications organisations. This paper reports on an initiative in the Riverina Region of Australia where the Regional Development Board has established a virtual telecommunications organisation, Riverina First, to improve the region´s telecommunications infrastructure, and to develop the community´s knowledge and skills to enable the region to become more competitive in the globalised marketplace.