Reliable connectivity isn’t a luxury in the South West, it’s essential.
Across Busselton and the wider South West, businesses, families and community groups rely on internet and mobile services every day. From EFTPOS and bookings to schooling, health, safety and emergency response, digital connection underpins how our region works.
Yet time and again, the same issues are raised:
Services slow dramatically during peak holiday periods
Businesses lose sales when EFTPOS or cloud systems fail
Residents struggle to understand their options or get clear answers
Help is hard to navigate when something goes wrong
That’s why the Busselton Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has taken the lead in producing Better Connections – A Practical Guide for Businesses & Community
This guide is designed to be used, not filed away. It helps you:
Understand the connectivity options available in the South West, fixed line, wireless, mobile and satellite.
Choose the right plan for your home or business, not just what’s advertised.
Improve performance with simple, practical fixes.
Prepare for peak seasons, outages and emergencies.
Protect your business with backup, redundancy and cybersecurity basics.
Know who to call, and when, if problems aren’t resolved.
It brings together independent advice from the Regional Tech Hub with local knowledge tailored to Busselton, Dunsborough, Vasse, Yalyalup, Yallingup and surrounding areas.
Why Busselton Chamber of Commerce is leading this work.
Connectivity is consistently raised as one of the biggest barriers to productivity, growth and resilience in our region. As the peak body representing local business, BCCI’s role is to:
Provide clear, trusted information
Reduce confusion and frustration for businesses and households
Strengthen the case for better infrastructure, accountability and planning
Support the wellbeing and economic resilience of our community
Better Connections forms part of BCCI’s broader commitment to tackling complex regional issues with practical tools, informed advocacy and collaboration.
Who this guide is for
Small and medium businesses relying on EFTPOS, cloud systems and digital tools
Home-based workers and professionals
Families and households managing multiple devices and users
Community organisations and volunteers
Holiday home owners and short-stay operators
Whether you’re troubleshooting a current issue or planning ahead, this guide gives you clarity and confidence.
Download the guide
👉 Download: Better Connections – A Practical Guide for Businesses & Community
(Free | No registration required)
SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS & RESOURCES
The following organisations contribute expertise, infrastructure or independent support aligned with the guidance in this booklet.
Regional Tech Hub – Independent, Free Advice
The Regional Tech Hub provides free, independent and practical advice to help regional Australians get connected and stay connected. Funded by the Australian Government and operated by the National Farmers’ Federation, their regionally based team understands the unique challenges faced by rural and regional communities.
They offer one-on-one troubleshooting, guidance on available technologies, and personalised Connectivity Reports tailored to your location, needs and budget. The Regional Tech Hub is the first point of contact if you’re unsure where to start or need help escalating unresolved issues.
Contact: 1300 081 029
https://www.regionaltechhub.org.au
NBN Co
nbn® designs, builds and operates Australia’s national broadband network, providing fixed-line, fixed wireless and satellite services across the country. In the South West, nbn® infrastructure forms the backbone of many residential and business connections, particularly in built-up areas.
Understanding what type of nbn® connection is available at your address, and what performance to realistically expect, is critical when choosing plans and planning backups.
Optus
Optus provides mobile, fixed internet and data services across Australia. In some South West locations, Optus mobile services can perform strongly, particularly as a secondary or backup connection to diversify network risk.
Using services from different providers can help reduce the impact of congestion or outages affecting a single network.
Telstra
Telstra operates a mobile network and provides fixed-line, mobile and business connectivity services. In many parts of the South West, Telstra offers strong coverage and is commonly used for primary or backup mobile services, including EFTPOS fallback.
For businesses, Telstra offers business-grade plans, mobile redundancy options and network monitoring tools that support continuity during outages.
CRISP Wireless
CRISP was born, built and bred right here in Western Australia. No offshore call centres, no mysterious time zones, just local legends delivering lightning-fast internet to the community we call home. We power households, small businesses and big ideas with fibre fast speeds, dependable Wi-Fi and support from real humans who actually get WA life. From coastal towns to the outback, we keep WA connected, one cheeky, reliably crispy connection at a time.
These services can be used as a primary connection or as part of a redundancy strategy.
https://www.crispwireless.com.au
Fairtel
Fairtel is an Australian telecommunications provider focused on reducing communication costs and improving customer service through clear, straightforward solutions. By working closely with customers and keeping plans simple and transparent, Fairtel helps cut through the complexity that often surrounds telecommunications services. Their approach prioritises fairness, practical advice and service that is easy to understand and manage
Looking ahead
Better Connections is more than a booklet — it’s part of a long-term effort to build a region that is resilient, informed and confident in how it uses digital infrastructure.
By equipping businesses and communities with practical knowledge, and by continuing to advocate for better services, the Busselton Chamber of Commerce is helping ensure the South West remains a great place to live, work, invest and do business.