A pilot implementation of Internet access for remote Aboriginal communities in the 'top end' of Australia

Many international bodies and agencies such as the UNDP and the World Bank are embracing IT, telecommunications and the Internet in particular as prom ising vehicles for development of the least developed countries. Internet a nd related technologies are being investigated as more efficient mechanisms for delivery of government services, health care and civil administration in remote areas. The paper is an analysis of the Local Government Associati on of the Northern Territory (LGANT) Internet Pilot Project-a trial project funded under the Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) to implement e-mail and Internet capabilities in four remote communities in t he Northern Territory of Australia. The pilot is a precursor to a much larg er proposal which aims to provide similar capabilities to 66 community gove rnment councils throughout the Northern Territory. The paper concludes that Internet and e-mail have an important future in remote areas of the Northe rn Territory and, more importantly, that community councils are an appropri ate, resilient locus for their development.