NBN Co has enhanced its Sky Muster Plus satellite services to provide more data for 108,000 households and businesses in regional and rural Australia.
These upgrades aim to improve the quality of life for people living and working in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia by reducing data constraints associated with accessing fast and reliable broadband.
For the first time, Sky Muster Plus customers can now access video streaming and Virtual Private Networks (VPN) for 16 hours a day, between midnight and 4pm, without it counting toward their monthly data allowance.
Other online activities including emails, internet banking, online shopping audio streaming, video calling, and Wi-Fi calling will continue to be unmetered for the full 24 hours a day.
Federal Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, said she welcomed this change from NBN Co, which will reduce data constraints for people living and working in regional and remote Australia, connecting them to fast and reliable broadband that will support their lifestyle, health, education, and businesses.
“NBN’s Sky Muster Satellite service provides connectivity to Australians in regional, and remote areas where no other NBN connection technology is practical,” Ms Rowland said.
“These changes to data inclusions recognise consumers’ changing broadband requirements.
“The Federal Government is committed to supporting households and businesses in regional and remote communities to access fast and reliable broadband, which is why we continue to invest in NBN Co to deliver improvements that support consumers and businesses to benefit from digital connectivity.”
This change will enhance the service and productivity of businesses, and reduce cost of living pressures – particularly for the increased number of Australians continuing to work and study from home.
It also responds to continuing consumer demand for more data, including accessing more streaming and video-on-demand services, accessing live-stream and pre-recorded remote learning resources without interruption, and seamlessly connecting with family and friends.
This announcement delivers on the Federal Government’s commitment to increase NBN Satellite data allowance, unmetering Skymuster usage between midnight and 4pm.
The enhanced product offering follows the Federal Government’s $480 million investment into upgrading and expanding the NBN fixed wireless network, which will free up satellite capacity.
In addition to these initial enhancements, further enhancements to Sky Muster data inclusions will occur once the fixed wireless upgrade is complete.
