Data Innovation Challenges

Theme: Remote Connectivity

Challenge Day: Wednesday 7th October 2026

Overview

Many remote communities across Australia don’t have reliable internet or mobile coverage. This makes it harder for people to access essential digital services like education, healthcare, and government support, and contributes to the ongoing digital divide. Connectivity gaps are not always clearly understood or consistently represented, making it difficult for communities, governments, and industry to prioritise action and investment effectively.

Overview

Tasks

To develop innovative, data-driven approaches that show and address connectivity gaps in remote environments and aim to (but not limited to):

Find the gaps: identify and analyse areas of limited or unreliable connectivity using available data;

Make it understandable: communicate connectivity gaps clearly to support communities, governments, and service providers in making informed decisions;

Consider multiple data sources: consider how data can be integrated from multiple sources to provide clearer insights into connectivity challenges and opportunities;

Impacts: show that you have considered the ethical, cultural, and community effects of how you use, explain, and present data;

Solutions: design solutions that remain usable in low-connectivity or offline contexts, such as through offline-first functionality.

Tasks

To develop innovative, data-driven approaches that show and address connectivity gaps in remote environments and aim to (but not limited to):

Find the gaps: identify and analyse areas of limited or unreliable connectivity using available data;

Make it understandable: communicate connectivity gaps clearly to support communities, governments, and service providers in making informed decisions;

Consider multiple data sources: consider how data can be integrated from multiple sources to provide clearer insights into connectivity challenges and opportunities;

Impacts: show that you have considered the ethical, cultural, and community effects of how you use, explain, and present data;

Solutions: design solutions that remain usable in low-connectivity or offline contexts, such as through offline-first functionality.

Resources

Participants may utilise the following resources, split into datasets and development tools:

Datasets

NT Remote Areas Mobile Coverage
ADII (Australian Digital Inclusion Index) Dashboard
National Broadband Network (NBN) dataset
ACCC Mobile Infrastructure Report – data release
Tropical cyclone reports
First Nations Connectivity Mapping Tool
ACMA Site Location Map
ABS TableBuilder
Other public datasets relevant to connectivity, geography, or community demographics

Tools

Python & related data analysis libraries
AI / Machine Learning libraries
Public data APIs
Other development, visualisation and mapping tools

Resources

Participants may utilise the following resources, split into datasets and development tools:

Datasets

NT Remote Areas Mobile Coverage
ADII (Australian Digital Inclusion Index) Dashboard
National Broadband Network (NBN) dataset
ACCC Mobile Infrastructure Report – data release
Tropical cyclone reports
First Nations Connectivity Mapping Tool
ACMA Site Location Map
ABS TableBuilder
Other public datasets relevant to connectivity, geography, or community demographics

Tools

Python & related data analysis libraries
AI / Machine Learning libraries
Public data APIs
Other development, visualisation and mapping tools

Eligibility

Teams of 2–4 enrolled CDU IT coursework students (undergraduate, postgraduate, TAFE & short courses). Higher Degree by Research students are not eligible.

Eligibility

Teams of 2–4 enrolled CDU IT coursework students (undergraduate, postgraduate, TAFE & short courses). Higher Degree by Research students are not eligible.

Competition process

1. Team Up

Teams of 2–4 enrolled CDU IT coursework students (undergraduate, postgraduate, TAFE & short courses). Higher Degree by Research students are not eligible.

2. Submission

Deadline: 7 October 2026 Submit all materials via the Submission Link . Late submissions will not be accepted.

3. Presentation on Challenge Day

10-minute pitching + 5-minute Q&A per team, present your project face-to-face with industry judges.

4. Award

First winner and Runner up will be announced on 5 November.

Submission Link.

Important Dates

Registration Closing Friday 12th September 2026

Final Submission Deadline Wednesday 7th October 2026

Challenge Presentation Day Wednesday 7th October 2026

Challenge Day Schedule

Wednesday 7th October 2026, 09:00 – 17:00 | Festival Learning Space 1.12, Danala | ECP, Darwin, Charles Darwin University

Evaluation

Judging Criteria

Submissions will be judged according to the following criteria: datasets, overall creativity and originality, technical sophistication, contextual relevance and practicality, ethical considerations and presentation.

First winner and runner up will be selected.