Albanese government announces bush internet trial to help close digital divide

Australians living in the bush restricted to slow and limited internet will be part of a major trial to help close the country’s digital divide.

Australians living in the bush are one step closer to faster, more reliable internet.

A two-month trial will give 10,000 homes and businesses on the NBN’s satellite system access to unlimited monthly internet at faster speeds.

It comes as the NBN and the government work to transition more regional and remote Australians from the satellite network to the fixed wireless service.

The trial, available to NBN Sky Muster Plus customers across the country, will aim to test the capacity and reliability of satellite technology in enabling faster download speeds of up to 100Mbps for regional customers.

If the trial is successful, it would mean broadband speeds and availability in the bush would become “significantly boosted” – beyond the current limit of 90 gigabytes a month – potentially by the end of the year.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said a successful trial would expand opportunity for small businesses and households in regional and remote Australia and narrow the digital divide.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said if the trial was successful, it would be a major step in narrowing the digital divide between cities and remote parts of the country. Picture NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“This trial is exciting news for Australians living in regional and remote communities served by NBN Sky Muster Plus,” she said.

“This is the first time those customers will be able to access uncapped monthly data allowances.

“The Albanese government is committed to narrowing the digital divide between our major cities and regional communities. Faster, more reliable speeds are critical to unlocking the digital economy, supporting remote work and education, and improving access to telehealth across the country.”

The announcement comes just days after the Prime Minister visited a School of the Air campus in regional Western Australia.

Speaking about his government’s commitment to the NBN at his National Press Club address on Wednesday, Mr Albanese said closing the gap on internet was a key priority of his.

“I was in Kalgoorlie, and the difference that the NBN will make to some of the people there … they spoke about the difference it makes to those regional communities, of having high speed broadband for the future education of their kids,” he said.

“But also about the whole way that it functions.”

Regional and remote Australians not on the NBN’s fixed network rely on the satellite, which is limited to slower speeds and less data.

NBN said it was committed to continuing to “push the boundaries” of satellite services in responding to the growing needs of Australians in the bush.

Chief development officer for regional and remote Gavin Williams said since launching the Sky Muster Plus satellite service in 2019, the company had been committed to evolving it.

“We are committed to bringing broadband solutions and digital connectivity to more homes and businesses in the satellite footprint, to support innovation, productivity and growth in regional and remote areas of Australia,” he said.

He said more satellite network customers would be able to migrate to the fixed wireless network as the company upgraded it.

More than 120,000 premises will be moved to fixed wireless in the short term as part of a $480m government grant.

If the trial is successful, all Sky Muster Plus customers could have access to higher quality internet by the end of the year.

Retail service providers participating in the trial will reach out to eligible customers to invite them into the trial.

NBN said the trial’s unmetered access was subject to the fair use policy.

Originally published as Albanese government announces bush internet trial to help close digital divide