Leading Edge to host NBN demo on Friday with Road Muster at 11.30

Written on the 31 August 2016

Western Australia's own nbn Sky Muster satellite truck is hitting the road in early September on a four week tour of regional WA to demonstrate the power of the NBN.

It can be found on Male Oval Thursday (3.30 - 5.30pm) and at Leading Edge Computers on Friday (11.30am - 1.30pm.)f

Starting in Broome, Road Muster will initially cover more than 4,600 kilometres, visiting towns such as Kununurra, Wyndham, Derby, Broome, Port Hedland, Pannawonica, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Mingenew, Gingin, Narrogin and Katanning.

The  custom-made  vehicle  will  spend  around  the  next  four  weeks  touring  outback  WA  showcasing how services over the nbn network can help bridge the digital divide by delivering fast broadband access for rural Western Australians.

The impressive looking, high-tech vehicle carries a portable satellite antenna that will allow locals to get hands-on with services over the nbn network via a Wi-Fi hotspot powered by the Sky Muster service.

WA Corporate Affairs Manager Ebony Aitken said West Aussies can expect to see Road Muster travelling around remote and regional areas of WA in September for about four weeks.

"The best way we can demonstrate the speed and effectiveness of a Sky Muster satellite service is to take it to peoples' doorstep so we're hitting the road to bring broadband to regional WA," she said.

"We're really keen to provide the community with an opportunity to experience the service for themselves in real-time.

"It is going to be a real game-changer for those living in regional and rural areas users will have access to e-health services, distance education and business opportunities, as well as numerous applications to stay connected with friends and family.

"The Sky Muster nbn service is a critical tool that can't come soon enough," Ms Aitken said.

The converted four-wheel drive Ford features a carbon-fibre satellite dish capable of finding and transmitting broadband from a Sky Muster signal anywhere in Australia. It is equipped with two large touch-screen television/computers, carries its own power source and is designed to reach the most remote parts of the country in the most rugged terrain.

Sky Muster is designed to deliver wholesale speeds of up to 25Mbps download/5Mbps upload* and data allowances of up to 150GB per month. Internet service providers will provide retail plans at different price points and data allowances, so eligible residents and businesses can choose a plan that best suits their needs.

Launched in April, the service is expected to provide access to fast broadband to around 400,000 premises across the country with more than 60,000 of those, or 15 per cent of all eligible premises located in Western Australia. A second Sky Muster satellite is set to be launched in October 2016.

For more information or to find out if you are eligible to connect to a Sky Muster service, visit: http://www.nbnco.com.au/connect-home-or-business/information-for-home/satellite.html