ILLAWARRA RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM UNCAPPED SATELLITE BROADBAND

06 June 2023

THE HON MICHELLE ROWLAND MP

MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS

 

THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP

ASSISTANT TREASURER

MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

 

ALISON BYRNES MP

MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

 

While most Illawarra households get their broadband from a fixed line, many don’t have access to a wireless connection.

Around 1,600 local residents need a satellite dish to access the NBN. From today, they can now order uncapped satellite broadband services.

It follows a successful trial of NBN Co’s new Sky Muster Plus product to boost internet speeds in rural and regional areas.

The new Sky Muster Plus Premium service will provide customers with unmetered data 24 hours a day and faster speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

The service responds to increasing demand for more data and faster speeds from satellite users caused by the growing use of video streaming, and people working and studying from home.

The unmetered service has been enabled by the Albanese Government’s $480 million investment to upgrade NBN Fixed Wireless services that is moving around 120,0000 premises from satellite to fixed wireless, freeing up capacity on Sky Muster.

The launch of the new product complements the Albanese Government’s commitments to improving NBN technologies in regional areas, including by investing $2.4 billion to expand full-fibre NBN to an additional 1.5 million premises – 660,000 of which will be in regional areas.

Quotes attributable to Member for Whitlam, Stephen Jones:

“We know the way we use our home internet has adapted and our technological infrastructure must reflect that evolution.

“The introduction of this new infrastructure will facilitate unmetered NBN data access for the households in the Illawarra and is welcome news for the region.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes:

“Connectivity is vital for business, education and healthcare; but many parts of our region are still finding it a challenge to get strong and reliable internet.”

“This announcement will deliver for communities like Darkes Forrest with boosted internet speeds.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“Whether you live in a capital city or out in the bush, access to fast, reliable and affordable broadband has never been more important.

“I’m excited to launch this new Sky Muster product today which will allow thousands of Australians to access unmetered NBN data for the first time in Australia. It’s a gamechanger for regional communities.

“Across the Sky Muster, fixed wireless and fixed-line networks, the Albanese Government is improving the NBN to give Australians access to 21st century communications infrastructure they need and deserve”.

Further information about the new product is available at www.nbn.com.au/skymusterplus.