Georgie Somerset
AgForce has welcomed the announcement of significantly increased data limits for NBN’s Sky Muster satellite internet customers.
The announcement was a welcome boost for regional, rural and remote Queenslanders who were desperate for better telecommunications services, AgForce said.
NBN announced on Tuesday that from October 1, the maximum monthly wholesale data limits on their Sky Muster satellite service will be doubled to 300 GB (150GB peak and 150GB off-peak).
AgForce telecommunications committee chair Georgie Somerset said Queensland was the most decentralised state in Australia.
The need for fairer, more reliable and more affordable phone and internet services was the number one issue for people living and working in the bush.
“Today’s announcement by NBN is welcome recognition that rural Australians need realistic data limits to be able to run their businesses, ensure their children are educated and to stay connected socially with family and friends,” Mrs Somerset said.
“While Sky Muster is now delivering excellent speed and increased reliability, the data allowances have been a serious limitation with many of our members restricted from even considering cloud based business services.
“We are pleased that NBN and the Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash have listened to groups like AgForce and other members of the Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition and taken this positive step towards fixing the data drought in the bush.”
The Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition – which includes AgForce – has been championing five key reforms to improve telecommunications services:
- A universal service obligation that is technology neutral and provides access to both voice and data
- Customer service guarantees and reliability measures to underpin the provision of voice and data services to deliver more accountability from providers and NBN
- Long term public funding for open access mobile network expansion in rural and regional Australia
- Fair and equitable access to Sky Muster satellite for those with a genuine need for the service, and access which reflects the residential, educational and business needs of rural and regional Australia, and
- Funding to build digital literacy and provide problem solving support for regional, rural and remote businesses and consumers.
