Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, along with two of his Senate colleagues from WA today announced that three National Broadband Network satellite ground stations will be located in Western Australia.
The ground stations that will be built in Moonyoonooka (near Geraldton), Binduli (near Kalgoorlie) and Carnarvon will be joined by seven others that will be part of the NBN's long-term satellite service that will provide broadband connectivity to premises outside the fibre and fixed-wireless footprint.
"For too long, people living in rural and regional Australia have had to live with second class telecommunications infrastructure, but through the Gillard Government's investment in the NBN all Australians will have access to fast, reliable and affordable broadband," said Senator Conroy.
"Like water and electricity, the Gillard Government sees fast broadband as an essential utility that should be made available to all Australians, no matter where they live."
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"The construction of these ground stations will help create around 90 direct jobs in these local communities, with building set to begin early next year," she said.
The announcement follows that of three ground stations that are to be located in Bourke (NSW), Merimbula (NSW), and Geeveston (Tasmania).
The NBN long-term satellite service is scheduled to begin operation in 2015.
