Cable & Wireless Optus and the Northern Territory Government today launched communications services via satellite in Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands. The community is the first of fourteen remote Aboriginal communities to be commissioned with services in a pilot program.

The $3 million contract to supply improved communications services to the remote communities was awarded to Optus in November 2000 under the Northern Territory Government's Electronic Outback Project (EOP).

In Milikapiti, the Northern Territory Minister for Communications, Science and Advanced Technology Peter Adamson welcomed the commencement of Optus services in the community.

"This project will help keep remote Territorians in touch. The Government is vigorously working toward equality of communication resources and access to information across the Territory," Mr Adamson said.

Matti Urvet, Manager Northern Territory, Optus said the Milikapiti communication centre will deliver internet access, payphones, access to a fax machine and a videoconferencing facility to the community.

"We deliver these services via satellite - a technology perfectly suited to carrying communications anywhere in Australia, regardless of geography."

"Not only will Milikapiti's residents be able to stay in touch with family and friends more easily, they will now be able to take advantage of functions like e-commerce and distance education."

"The entire community has embraced this project, placing the communications centre in their new library. This is a good example of Government, business and community working together to expand services in the Territory," Mr Urvet said.

The Milikapiti Library will become a hub for the community, housing the EOP equipment, the Library, Night Patrol Office, Centrelink and other services.

The next three communities to receive Optus communications centres under the EOP will be Wadeye, Aputula and Hart's Range, with infrastructure and services to be in place in around four weeks.

A further ten communities will receive infrastructure for voice, data and videoconferencing services, with the option of card-operated payphones.

The project is funded through the Commonwealth Government's Networking the Nation program.

For more information:
Linda Collard
Cable & Wireless Optus
Phone: 02 9342 5045