Communities in Barker will continue to have internet connectivity during natural disasters, with the rollout of three satellite dishes by NBN Co on emergency buildings in Barker.
Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin, who chairs the Parliaments Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network, today welcomed the roll out of satellite dishes at the Gambier Group Base in Mt Gambier, the Mallee Group Control Centre in Lameroo and the Loxton SES in Loxton, and said that these are important investments by the Federal Government in helping those impacted by disaster to stay connected with family and essential services.
“These satellite dishes will also act as a critical piece of infrastructure for those dealing with the impact of emergencies, including first responders by enabling them to maintain internet connectivity when managing disaster response and recovery efforts”, Mr Pasin said.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, welcomed the latest satellite dish installations from NBN Co, ahead of the next bushfire season.
“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,” Minister Fletcher said.
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.
ENDS.
Media contacts:
Minister Fletcher – Imre Salusinszky | 0432 535 737 | imre.salusinszky@communications.gov.au
Tony Pasin MP – Anna Hawkins | 0439 651 016 | anna.hawkins@aph.gov.au
