WAFarmers plead for NBN
WAFarmers has urged NBN Co to speed up the deployment of new satellites for its near-capacity NBN satellite service, with homes in regional areas expected to face at least a 12-month wait.
The call comes after reports NBN Co is looking into building a third satellite for its service for rural and regional areas, amid concerns that two satellites being built for deployment next year will not meet demand.
WAFarmers president Dale Park welcomed the third satellite but warned there were many people in remote areas who wanted to be able to log on to the NBN satellite service but could not.
The interim NBN satellite service is almost at capacity, meaning those who can access the service face slow speeds.
It caused local provider iiNet to pull out of the offering the service late last year and also drew criticism from parents with students enrolled in WA's School of the Air, with students unable to access the internet for parts of the curriculum.
"We (remote farmers) won't get fibre, so satellite is our only road to salvation," Mr Park said. "And I guess at the moment there's a lot of confusion in the farming community about when is it going to happen and if we're going to get it."
Two satellites, worth $620 million, are under construction in the US and are due to launch some time next year to ease the capacity demands. NBN Co chief executive Bill Morrow said last week that one of the two satellites was 70 per cent complete and "on track".
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has routinely blamed the Labor Government for the inadequate rollout of the satellite service.
He last month announced an $18.4 million investment to help NBN Co upgrade the current satellite service capacity by 33 per cent.
