‘Tough’ phones to keep Aboriginal communities connected
Aboriginal communities in remote areas will soon receive new ‘tough’ phones designed to withstand harsh outback conditions. The initiative is part of a three million dollar Community Phones Program announced by Federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan yesterday. Twenty of the most remote communities in the Northern Territory will trial new ‘robust’ phones, which were designed by the Centre for Appropriate Technology in Alice Springs. The Centre’s Gary McGregor says the phones are enclosed in a special steel case, making them weather resistant. Meanwhile, Telstra has established a National Indigenous Directorate to coordinate improvements to telecommunications services in the remote communities. Based in Darwin, the Directorate will work closely with Indigenous groups to develop a range of products and services suitable for their specific needs. The Directorate will begin operating on July 1.