Hay, Rachel, Wilson, Carrie-Ann, and Sparrow, Kristy (2025) Enhancing connectivity in Queensland: a case study approach to collaborative strategies for social impact in rural, regional and remote communities. Journal of Social Impact in Business Research, 2 (4). pp. 37-60.

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Abstract

Purpose – To highlight the consequences of fragmented planning, ineffective investment and a lack of strategic oversight in telecommunications decisions across rural, regional and remote (RRR) Queensland. This paper aims to demonstrate how these issues can lead to poor outcomes, increased costs and low take-up of services. Case studies identify the urgent need for informed, collaborative, strategic and collective approaches to regional telecommunications that prioritise community engagement, independent advice and forwardthinking investment strategies. Design/methodology/approach – Partnering with industry experts, this paper used a participatory and relationships approach through story-based evaluation (Dart and Davies, 2003) of Government-led independent review submissions, anecdotal conversations and Netnography (Kozinets and Kozinets, 2015) to assess the effectiveness of current Government telecommunications investment in Queensland. Findings – The paper provides useful examples of how procurement issues, lack of collaboration and fragmented planning can lead to poorly tailored solutions and low levels of telecommunications take-up, directly impacting the quality of public services and the safety of RRR residents. It highlights the difficulty in getting Government services and housing connected in RRR areas and underscores the need for streamlined and efficient procurement processes that prioritise the needs of consumers and businesses. Addressing procurement challenges and implementing appropriate planning, engagement and investment strategies, Governments can ensure essential telecommunication services in remote areas are not compromised, ultimately contributing to the social impact of residents in remote communities. Research limitations/implications – Story-based evaluation has limitations, such as potential subjectivity, difficulty in generalising findings and challenges in data analysis, which may be evident in this paper. Practical implications – Addressing procurement challenges and implementing appropriate planning, engagement and investment strategies, governments can ensure essential telecommunication services in remote areas are not compromised, ultimately contributing to the social impact of residents in remote communities. Originality/value – Drawing on lived experiences of RRR people, this paper provides insight needed for a more strategic, inclusive, collaborative and community-focused approach to telecommunications investment and planning in Queensland. Addressing systemic issues will ensure that investments lead to sustainable, high- quality connectivity solutions that meet the unique needs of RRR communities.

Item ID:	90988
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	3049-4877
Keywords:	Connectivity literacy, Digital inclusion, Procurement, Telecommunications, Rural, Regional, Remote consumers, SME, Consumer protection, Government investment, Regional planning
Related URLs:	https://www.emerald.com/jsibr/article/2/...
Copyright Information:	© Rachel Hay, Carrie Ann Wilson and Kristy Sparrow. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at Link to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence
Date Deposited:	17 Mar 2026 01:27
FoR Codes:	35 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 3506 Marketing > 350612 Social marketing @ 80% 46 INFORMATION AND COMPUTING SCIENCES > 4608 Human-centred computing > 460806 Human-computer interaction @ 10% 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4407 Policy and administration > 440701 Communications and media policy @ 10%
SEO Codes:	22 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES > 2201 Communication technologies, systems and services > 220106 Satellite technologies, networks and services @ 10% 22 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES > 2201 Communication technologies, systems and services > 220107 Wireless technologies, networks and services @ 10% 22 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES > 2201 Communication technologies, systems and services > 220105 Network systems and services @ 80%
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