Here’s something else to think about.
The most serious issue is the access to Triple Zero (000) emergency calls.
Then you get down to connected health infrastructure and transport.
Down the line it’s payments — the ability to accept digital cash. (That’s keenest for small and mobile businesses, like taxis and cafes that have lots of small sales and don’t have a way for customers to “put off” the transaction).
It does remind me of a standard “country childhood” interaction that I tell my children to provide them more evidence that I am super old.
You’d call your friend, at their home, on a landline phone and arrange to meet somewhere — like tennis courts or the cinema.
Then you’d get there and they would too.
Or they wouldn’t and you’d wait.
After about 15 minutes you might think about where the nearest phone is, and if you had a coin for it. Sometimes you’d call and it would ring out, or their mum would answer and say they’d left five minutes ago.
But mostly, you’d wait, and things worked out.
They’d turn up, you’d have a hit of tennis or see a movie, then go home.
And today’s been a bit like that.