Technology and communications
Connect to the internet
Contact an internet service provider if you want to connect to the internet at home.
Free public internet access
South-East Queensland
Free internet access may be available through:
Regional Queensland
Free internet access may be available:
- at regional libraries
- at Indigenous Knowledge Centres
- through your local council.
WiFi access
WiFi is high speed wireless internet access. Areas where WiFi can be accessed are referred to as 'hotspots'. In most cases hotspots are free, but at some locations you may have to pay to use a Wifi hotspot.
Search the internet to find free WiFi hotspots in your area.
Brisbane City Council offer free WiFi:
Queensland Rail is installing wifi access on all new city network trains. Free wifi will be available on 64 of the newer trains by the end of 2012.
Seniors and the internet
Learn how to use computers and the internet by enrolling in a course for seniors or joining a computer club.
National Broadband Network (NBN)
The NBN will:
- deliver affordable high-speed, open and instant internet access to all Australians
- increase the number of Australians connected to broadband internet
- involve laying of underground fibre optic cables to 93% of Australian homes, schools and businesses
- improve access to business and job opportunities, health, education and government services
- be the largest infrastructure investment made by the Australian Government.
The Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts are responsible for developing the coordinated approach to rolling out the NBN in Queensland. The department aims to:
- maximise the geographic reach of optical fibre in Queensland
- secure rapid deployment of the NBN across Queensland
- maximise employment opportunities during and after the 8 year construction phase
- facilitate development of Queensland’s digital economy and encourage economic development.
For more information about the NBN, you can:
- see how the NBN will provide opportunities for your business
- visit the Australian Government's NBN website.
Online communities and social networks
An online community is a network of people that share similar interests or goals and connect through the internet. They are a virtual meeting place.
Join an online community or start your own with family, friends or work colleagues. Online communities can allow you to:
- have your say on forums, discussion groups and chat rooms—these are online discussion sites where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages
- receive newsletters or subscribe to mailing lists
- share your thoughts on:
- Facebook , a social networking website where users can create a personal profile, add other users as friends, and share messages and images
- Twitter, a social networking website where you can send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters (a ‘tweet’)
- Linkedin, a business-related social networking website that lets you find like-minded professionals, provide details of your career and join discussions.
Mobile phone service providers
If you want to buy a mobile phone, contact an Australian mobile phone service provider.
Smartphones can provide access to various applications or services including the internet.
