Two-thirds of remote Indigenous Australians lack working free-to-air TV
Two-thirds of remote Indigenous Australians lack working free-to-air TV and pay about $345 monthly for mobile internet instead.
Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities rely on the federal government's VAST satellite service, but it is failing in many homes. Power surges, high costs, activation problems and few technicians leave the service broken.
Without free TV, residents turn to mobile data to stream content and access news. A study of nine remote First Nations communities found homes spend an average of $345 each month on mobile and internet.
Most struggle: 83 per cent say they sacrifice essentials to afford internet, and 69 per cent cut back on data to manage bills. Losing free-to-air TV also means people rely on the internet and social media for news, making them more vulnerable to misinformation.
Some good signs emerged: 98 per cent now have internet access, up from 86 per cent just two years ago, and Starlink use jumped from 4 per cent to 24 per cent.
- Two-thirds
- Without working TV
- $345
- Monthly internet cost
- 83 per cent
- Cutting essentials for internet
- 86% to 98% in two years
- Internet access increase
Why it mattersWhen free services fail, poorer communities pay more to stay connected, widening the gap between remote and urban Australia and leaving people vulnerable to misinformation.
AustraliaRemote First Nations communities across Australia are paying premium prices for essential services most Australians take for granted, while struggling with a cost-of-living crisis that hits hardest at the bottom.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 9 h ago
