Who is Community Telco?

Community Telco is an initiative of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd, which has been created to improve the prospects of communities and to minimise the capital drain they face from the purchase of essential services such as telecommunications. The primary objective behind this strategy is the longterm sustainability of those communities who choose to partner with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd.

This approach has been successful with Community Bank® branches around Australia, and has been proven to also work in our Community Telco companies.

There are nine Community Telco franchises, with many operations centralised to head office referred to as Community Telco Australia.

Why was Community Telco established?

To retain a healthy proportion of the capital that local communities spend on telecommunications services within the community.
To build new competencies, to create innovative solutions, to improve collaboration and community commitment, and to make a solid contribution in the community.
To secure active competition in local markets.
To ensure communities gained access to essential infrastructure to enable our businesses to operate as efficiently as if they were located in a major capital city – where the larger telco players tend to concentrate most of their efforts and investments.

Community Partnership Stages

What sort of services can Community Telco provide?

Mobile phone plans and handsets (3G and GSM)
Fixed and wireless internet (Broadband and dial up)
Landline phone service and office phone systems
Data networks and VPNs
Tailored business telecommunication solutions

Backed by the strength of a national group

Community Telco Australia is owned in equal shares by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and telecommunications provider, AAPT, and has multiple franchises around Australia. The aggregated buying power of Community Telco Australia enables local communities to access competitively priced telecommunications technology, the best available telecommunications solutions and to improve their future prospects.

Making a real difference in local communities

The Community Telco franchise companies are working to make a real difference in their local communities, providing an alternative, independent funding stream for local groups and projects.
Here are just some examples of what has been achieved already in local communities:

In Central Victoria, the Strathfieldsaye and District Community Enterprise has constructed the Strathfieldsaye Sports Complex, enabling families in the area to enjoy first-class recreational facilities.
The complex was built on funds raised through accounts aligned to the Enterprise though Bendigo Community Telco and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd.
Ballarat Community Telco contributes towards the ongoing success of the Ballarat Cancer Research Centre, which is a world leading cancer research centre located locally.
On the Sunshine Coast, the Woombye, Nambour and Maleny community groups were established to provide support for community infrastructure and social programs.
Suncoast Community Telco has provided funds through these groups to assist Woombye State School, Woombye sports clubs, Special Olympics Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Independent Living Service, Red Cross and Cittamani Hospice Service, to name just a few.

Click here to contact us today for more information