The launch of NBN’s second satellite, Sky Muster II, scheduled for October, will have major benefits for local farmers who are in internet blackspots.
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Simon Barton and his family, who live about 25km from Wellington, have never ending mobile and internet problems. He believes this is a game changer for his business and local farmers who have bad internet blackspots.
“We have been suffering in the past with internet non connection, the service dropping out, not performing at all so the new service will help our business here,” he said.
Taking off from French Guiana Space Centre in South America, the SKY muster is set to orbit 36,000km into the sky and is one of the world’s largest communications satellites, weighing in at 6400kg.
Following the successful launch of NBN’s first satellite late last year, Sky Muster(TM) II publicity says it will provide additional data capacity to support the delivery of the company’s world-leading satellite broadband service.
The technology will help bridge Australia’s digital divide for around 400,000 homes and businesses in regional and remote Australia by providing them with better access to distance online education and healthcare services, as well as the ability to run more efficient agribusinesses from outback farms.
“The mobile blackspots we’ll keep plugging on with and trying to talk with pollies about these. But we do use the internet everyday, we do online livestock selling, upload video and photos of horses and stock to sell, internet banking, webinars and at last we can use the satellite to help business grow,” Mr Barton said.
Alicia Garden, CEO of Grain Growers said it was time for her community to catch up with the rest of the country and she is excited.
“Grain Growers Limited represents grain farmers across Australia. Like any other business, grain farmers require fast, affordable, reliable internet connectivity to operate their enterprises,” she said. “However, currently many farmers are not able to access connectivity comparable to their urban counterparts. Access to the NBN Sky Muster service signals a potential game-changer for grain growers. It will enhance connectivity standards to improve the efficiency and profitability of Australian farming by changing the way farmers do business.”