NEWS that the National Broadband Network (NBN) Interim Satellite Service has closed off registrations for new services has prompted Queensland’s Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association president Andy Pegler to call for the fast-tracking of mobile phone towers in remote locations.
The ISS reached its capacity of 48,000 subscribers late in December last year and its replacement, the Long Term Satellite Service is not scheduled to begin operations until 2015, leaving new internet subscribers in the bush stranded with few options.
Mr Pegler has expressed concern that the potential lack of access would prevent any new distance education families from completing curriculum requirements, as virtually everything that is supplied for distance education is now done with the assumption that the internet is available.
“Those children that don’t have access are really going to be struggling,” he said.
“I can think of three properties at short notice in my area that have recently changed hands, that have the potential to have young families on them.”
He believes a scheme similar to those of the 1970s that brought rural power to isolated areas should be quickly instigated, by erecting more mobile phone towers and offering wireless internet at the same price as satellite services, providing a guaranteed number of people switch from satellite to wireless.
“Just like the rural power schemes, you’d need a minimum number of connections to do it, but I doubt people would be upset about switching to wireless internet, providing the price was the same and they could get out of their satellite contract.”
Mr Pegler castigated the NBN Co for its announcement of the ISS closure just prior to Christmas, saying it had been badly handled.
“To do that then, with no notice, was pretty ordinary,” he said.
“The message on their website talks about finding alternative providers, but when you click on it, most find that it says the address they’ve entered is currently not covered by any of the listed commercial providers.”
According to an NBN Co spokesperson, they are the wholesale telecommunications company, but it’s retail service providers that have the direct relationship with customers to sign up for services.
The spokesperson said her company had clearly stated that the interim satellite only had capacity for 48,000 services and had continued to provide regular updates on its capacity to the retail service providers.
The company to date has not given an indication as to when in 2015 the two new dedicated long term satellites, with their greater capacity and services for end users, will be launched.
“There will be a transition period once the satellite has been successfully launched,” is the only comment made.
Another potential problem identified by ICPA was the provision of satellite broadband services when a property changed hands.
Mr Pegler said he had been unable to find out whether the dish and service should remain as part of the infrastructure or whether it was the property of the seller to retain.