The nbn is coming to Flinders Island in 2016 via the new Sky Muster^TM satellite service.

It is part of a ramp up in nbn connections across Tasmania in 2016.

As at 31 December, over 116,000 Tasmanian premises can connect to the network with over 54,000 Tasmanian premises having chosen to activate a service.

The satellite was launched in October and is in final testing and trials ahead of the launch of commercial services around the middle of 2016.

Flinders Island and Cape Barren Island residents will be able to order a service from retail service providers.

The connection of Flinders Island is an important step toward the national goal of connecting eight million premises to the nbn™ network by 2020.

nbn Corporate Affairs Manager Tasmania, Russell Kelly, said:

“The Sky Muster^TM satellite will be a game changer for Flinders Island – providing new opportunities for business and residents.

“Sky Muster™ is designed to deliver wholesale speeds of up to 25 Mbps download and 5 Mbps download. [1]

“We recently announced an optimisation plan to allow wholesale data allowances of up to 150GB per month, with plans underway for additional allowances for distance education students. [2]

“nbn’s entry-level wholesale plans will enable retail service providers to offer up to 75GB plans per month during peak periods. [3].

“Further higher-value wholesale options could allow RSPs to construct peak usage plans up to 150GB per month. As a guide, a 75GB plan could allow more than 7 hours per day [4] of standard definition video streaming.

“These plans would allow daily video and radio streaming, checking weather forecasts or stock prices, online banking and downloading movies.

“nbn will be consulting with industry on plans to provide a separate 50GB monthly data allowance to eligible distance education students [2].

“Further trials and developments are planned for dedicated education video services over the coming year.

“Fast broadband is becoming increasingly important for business including agriculture, as farms embrace the productivity improvements that technology offers.”

“Fast broadband is also becoming vital for many tourism operators who can connect with customers and build a community around their services and visitor experiences.”

[1] We’re designing the nbn™ network to provide these speeds to our wholesale customers: telephone and internet service providers.  End-user experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ network, depends on the technology over which services are delivered to premises and some factors outside nbn’s control such as equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how the end user’s service provider designs its network.

[2] Eligibility to be confirmed with the relevant department of education. nbn intends to propose a 50GB allowance per student to a maximum of three students per location.

[3] Off peak is 1am to 7am

[4] This is a guide only based on estimated data streaming rates for a standard definition video stream such as ABC iView at a typical resolution.

 

Resources

Download construction images

Download construction video footage

 

Notes to editors

• Communities can check the progress of the rollout of the nbn™ network in their area by typing their address or postcode into the interactive nbn™ network rollout map, which can be viewed here
• The anticipated technology to be deployed in communities may change depending on a number of factors once the construction planning stage has been finalised. Some areas may be serviced by multiple technologies.
• nbn™ provides services to its wholesale customers, telephone and internet service providers, and does not provide services directly to end users. FTTN trial speeds are not necessarily reflective of the speeds that will be experienced by end users.  End user experience including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ network depends on the technology over which services are delivered to premises and some factors outside nbn™’s control such as equipment quality, software, broadband plans and the network design of retail service providers. 

Ends