Full Fibre Technology Helping Wild Local Cast A Wider Net

Rebecca Zaghini, of Wild Local, Ingham. Image supplied

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By Victoria Velton

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For Ingham family business Wild Local, a reliable internet connection is essential to keeping the doors open; beyond convenience, it serves to support customers and the local fishing families behind its fresh seafood.

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After 18 years in business, Rebecca Zaghini has seen Wild Local grow from a fresh fish and prawn shop into a fish and chip shop, café and pantry. But as the business expanded, so too did its reliance on technology.

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The need for a stronger connection became impossible to ignore in December 2025, when the internet dropped out just as the business was heading into its busiest trading period.

“With locals, holidaymakers and travellers all coming through, we simply couldn't afford to have our internet fail then,” Rebecca said.

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“Online orders, card payments, stock and supplier communication all depend on it. That outage was the wake-up call.”

The business made the move to full fibre, a decision Rebecca said has already made a noticeable difference to daily operations.

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Online orders now come through without delays, EFTPOS is faster and more reliable, and staff can manage stock and communicate with fishers and suppliers without waiting on a slow connection.

“When you're dealing with fresh, wild-caught seafood, timing is everything, so being able to respond quickly to customers and suppliers really matters,” she said.

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The improved connection has also helped streamline the customer experience, with faster and more accurate orders, less waiting at the counter and fewer missed calls during busy periods.

Wild Local has also introduced an AI ordering system, helping take pressure off staff during peak times so they can concentrate on cooking and looking after customers in the shop.

Rebecca said the technology relies on a fast, stable connection, with full fibre providing the infrastructure to support it.

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With almost every part of the business now depending on internet access, from orders and payments to tour group bookings and social media, Rebecca said reliable connectivity was no longer a luxury.

That reliability is particularly important as the region approaches another wet season.

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During the February 2025 floods, Wild Local was forced to close for seven days. Once power was restored, the business reopened to feed SES workers and locals.

“That experience showed us how much the community relies on us when things go wrong, and we never want to be shut for that long again,” Rebecca said.

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Since then, the business has invested in solar, battery storage and a backup generator, alongside its full fibre connection, to improve its ability to keep operating through difficult conditions.

Being connected also means Wild Local can keep customers informed when roads close or weather affects deliveries, sharing updates through social media and staying in touch with fishers about catches and supply.

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Rebecca believes regional businesses can underestimate how important telecommunications infrastructure is until they experience an outage themselves.

“In regional areas, where we're more exposed to severe weather and isolation, reliable telecommunications should be treated as essential infrastructure, just like power and roads,” she said.

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"Don't wait for something to go wrong. Look at how much of your business depends on the internet. It's usually more than you think.

“Investing in a reliable connection is investing in your customers, your staff and your ability to keep trading when things get tough.”

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Rebecca sees this improved connectivity opening up new opportunities for Wild Local and other regional businesses, from expanding online orders and using technology more effectively to promoting Hinchinbrook's wild-caught seafood to customers across Australia and overseas.

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