Connecting remote Australian communities to the world

Connecting the furthest corners of the country, the nbn network unlocks access to essential services and new opportunities, which can improve the lives of Australians in remote communities.

In a country as vast as Australia, it’s critical to ensure that the benefits of access to reliable home internet aren’t just available to city dwellers. In many ways, distance means that enhanced connectivity is even more important to those who live in remote communities.

Australians who live far from the amenities and infrastructure that others take for granted depend on reliable internet to access critical services and take advantage of a broader range of economic opportunities.

Telehealth ensures that all Australians have access to world-class medical services, while high-speed broadband also enables the transfer of large files such as radiology scans. Remote learning allows Australians to study at the nation’s best universities without the need to relocate, and as more businesses embrace remote working, employers can tap into a wealth of talent from coast to coast, not just in major cities.

Emerging home-entertainment technologies are also more demanding when it comes to bandwidth. Streaming 4K video can require three to four times more data than full high definition, while cloud gaming can consume 14 to 24 times more data than full high-definition video streaming.

The evolution of the nbn network for remote connectivity

The good news is that Australia’s broadband infrastructure is evolving to try and meet these growing needs.

When it comes to broadband connectivity, the nbn has significantly expanded the full Fibre To The Premises footprint, offering upgrade options to all premises still connected by Fibre To The Node, while wireless alternatives allow Aussies who live outside major population centres to stay connected to the information superhighway.

nbn’s Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster satellites are two of the key technologies connecting remote Australians to the internet. These technologies continue to be upgraded to improve performance and keep pace with growing demand.

Keeping pace with increasing data usage and future innovations

The average Australian household downloads seven-and-a-half times more data than it did a decade ago, and this is set to double again within the next eight years. Meanwhile, the average household uploads will double in just four years.

To help ensure regional and remote Australians aren’t left behind, the nbn® Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrade Program upgraded more than 2300 towers to deliver faster wholesale speeds across the Fixed Wireless network, from which regional and remote Australians can now benefit via participating retail service providers.

At the same time, a smaller satellite footprint has increased network capacity for those remaining in the satellite-serving area and this has enabled plans with uncapped data usage, subject to fair use and shaping to be offered to nbn Sky Muster Plus Premium customers via the two Sky Muster satellites that sit high above Australia in stationary Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO).

In a sign of where upgrades could be headed in the future, this year nbn and Ericsson successfully conducted live field trials of the latest 5G millimetre wave (mmWave) technology in parts of the Fixed Wireless network, achieving wholesale download speeds exceeding 1 Gbps and wholesale upload speeds of more than 100 Mbps, at a distance of approximately 10 kilometres.

nbn is also exploring options for a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite solution which may serve the satellite footprint in future. This is to ensure it offers a range of technologies that service the connectivity needs of all Australians, no matter where they live.

Thanks to these ongoing advancements, Australians who live in remote communities will continue to enjoy access to an uplifted internet experience bringing even more opportunities to their door.

For more information on how nbn is transforming connectivity in Australian communities, visit the nbn website.