Following the installation of backup NBN Sky Muster satellite services under the Australian Government’s Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) program, Cunningham will now be enjoying increased communications network resilience.
The installations under the STAND program equip Wollongong City SES Unit and Era Beach and Burning Palms Surf Life Saving Clubs for emergencies and natural disasters
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said these projects across Wollongong are among 1,059 delivered so far under the program, with the remaining projects to be completed by November 2022.
Backup and alternative communications facilities will be provided by the satellite services that are being installed at emergency service depots and community evacuation centers across the nation.
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The Wollongong City SES Unit project will use NBN Sky Muster satellite services during disasters when land-based networks are destroyed or unavailable to ensure emergency responders can stay online.
Meanwhile, in the event of a natural disaster, visitors will be able to get emergency information and stay in touch with friends and family through the finished improvements at Era Beach and Burning Palms.
Rowland said, “While no network can ever be 100 per cent disaster-proof, these investments will go a long way towards ensuring local residents can stay connected in the most difficult times, especially to access potentially lifesaving information and advice.”
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Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes also stressed the importance of staying connected during a natural disaster which, according to her, “can be the difference between life and death, whether that be receiving the latest information or contacting emergency services.”
According to the federal government, STAND-funded assets have proven effective at assisting local communities during several natural disasters in the past such as the Western Australia bushfires and Queensland floods.
Byrnes said, “The satellite project at the Wollongong City SES Unit is a major boost for our heroic first responders and will ensure they stay online when disaster strikes.”
“Upgrades at Era Beach and Burning Palms will keep local residents and visitors informed, minimising the risk of local communication network disruptions when reliable service is needed most,” said Brynes
The STAND program is aimed at protecting communities by investing in improved connectivity for emergency services depots and evacuation centres, improved telecommunications resilience under the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP), and portable communications facilities across the country.
The federal government believes that all of these steps will aid in saving lives and lessening the effects of natural catastrophes on the neighborhood.
Source: The Hon Michelle Rowland MP – Media Releases
Jaw de Guzman is the content producer for Comms Room, a knowledge platform and website aimed at assisting the communications industry and its professionals.
