Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan says the nbn™ Disaster Satellite Service installed at Kempsey will boost the support offered to communities and emergency services personnel during and in the aftermath of emergency events, such as bushfires and floods.
He said the installation is the second service rolled out in the Cowper electorate.
Funding provided by the Australian Government’s Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) package will increase the number of temporary emergency network services.
“This is a crucial investment from the Federal Government to help people in disaster-affected areas stay connected with family and essential services,” Mr Conaghan said.
“These satellite services will also act as a critical piece of infrastructure for emergency service workers in Cowper, by providing them with connectivity to help manage their disaster response and recovery efforts.
“By offering broadband connectivity powered by the National Broadband Network’s Sky Muster satellites — which have coverage of all 7.7 million square kilometres of Australia and operate even when terrestrial mobile or fixed line networks have ceased operating — these dishes will help people in disaster affected locations stay in contact before, during and after a bushfire or other disaster.”
The satellite dishes are part of the Morrison Government’s $37.1m Securing Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters package to improve the resilience of communications networks. More information on the package can be found on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications’ website.
nbn™ Disaster Satellite Service units are being installed at designated emergency management sites and evacuation centres across the country.
Locations for the installation of emergency satellite infrastructure were nominated by the Federal, state and territory governments and relevant emergency service agencies, with NBN Co working with service delivery providers on the installation and activation of services.
To find out more about STAND visit www.communications.gov.au/STAND