• Walcha district residents eligible to go online with Sky Muster.
• Nbn Co states that 13,012 premises are eligible for Sky Muster in New England Electorate.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has said residents in the wider Walcha community are now able to experience the benefits of the nbn™ network provided through nbn’s Sky Muster™ satellite service.

 

Mr Joyce said the Sky Muster™ satellite service, launched in April, was specifically designed to deliver access to fast broadband to more than 400,000 homes and businesses in regional, rural and remote Australia; including 120,000 premises in NSW.

 

A second Sky Muster™ satellite was launched last month to help provide greater capacity to the service.

 

“I was delighted to be able to announce the news that the nbn will begin its fibre to the node rollout in Tamworth from early December. An estimated 19,300 homes and premises will have the capacity to be connected by the time work is completed, according to nbn Co,” Mr Joyce said

 

“I’m also delighted to welcome the Sky Muster Satellite to Walcha and ensuring the edges of the Electorate are getting connection to the wider world,” he said.

 

“This means we’re actually delivering on our promise earlier than we said.”

 

The latest update on progress of the rollout from the nbn Co reveals there are 13,012 premises eligible for Sky Muster installation in the New England Electorate. Of these 1,019 have an active service and 56 premises have a pending activation of the service.

 

nbn spokeswoman, Marcela Balart, said the Sky Muster satellite service is set to change the way people in regional areas connect and will help bridge Australia’s digital divide which is vital for regional centres such as Walcha.

 

“Broadband is essential for modern living.  People in remote and isolated parts of the country will be better able to run their businesses, learn, stay in touch with friends and family and access new telehealth services online. Australia is a uniquely vast country, making online connections increasingly critical.

 

“People will be able to better connect with their community, run their businesses, learn and access vital health services online. In some cases we’re providing access to fast broadband to many areas that have never had it before,” Ms Balart said.

 

Walcha Council General Manager, Jack O’Hara, said having nbn’s Sky Muster satellite service available is great news for the Walcha community. Fast and reliable broadband is something that has been desperately needed in regional and rural Australia for many years.

 

“Sky Muster will mean residents and businesses alike will help level the playing field when it comes to access to broadband.

 

“However, due to the sheer size of the country and the demand for services, it will take time for technicians to travel from region to region and install the Sky Muster service so the sooner people place an order, the sooner they will be able to be connected,” Mr O’Hara said.

 

Construction to connect more than 1,500 Walcha premises to nbn’s fixed line service is expected to start from September next year.

 

For more information about nbn’s SkyMuster™ service, visit: www.nbnco.com.au/connect-home-or-business/information-for-home/satellite.html