Melbourne, April 8, 2009 AEST (ABN Newswire) - NewSat Limited (ASX:NWT) welcomes the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's announcement yesterday, that the Australian Government will build a high speed broadband infrastructure for the entire country. While the primary vehicle for broadband is a fibre network to the home, the Government estimates that 10 percent of Australians will be provided broadband through other means.
This represents more than two million Australians, whose future broadband needs will be met through high speed satellite and wireless technologies, or a combination of both. NewSat has consistently championed the requirement for a next generation satellite service to reach remote Australia.
NewSat CEO Mr Adrian Ballintine said, "The decision by the Australian Government to build the NBN itself was a victory for commonsense.
"The national broadband network concept was always an aspirational goal, but the dramatic changes that have occurred in the general economy and in technology since it was announced, have meant it was clearly time for a fresh approach.
"NewSat remains ready and best able to assist in the provision of satellite and wireless services and has vast experience in these disciplines. This has been demonstrated through the Kimberley Broadband Solution Project which is starting to deliver internet services to some of the most challenging areas of Australia through a blend of wireless and satellite technologies.
"In addition, NewSat has previously (through the Regional Independent Telecommunications Committee and subsequent Government submissions) offered to the Australian Government a satellite proposal which best fits the "next generation" technology solution announced by the Prime Minister yesterday.
"This deal still stands and remains open and very much pertinent to negotiations following Mr Rudd's NBN announcement," continued Mr Ballintine. "The global financial crisis has highlighted the need to accelerate NewSat's delivery of next generation satellite broadband to remote Australia.
"The logistical and business case for this project must now be carefully examined, but NewSat believes that it has the potential to provide an early "win" for the government and the nation in terms of assisting the development of the digital economy and stimulating growth in job creation.
"The new broadband arrangements should deliver early high quality outcomes for the most challenged sectors of Australia. For people living and working in these remote areas, broadband is not a luxury but an essential conduit for outback communities' sustainability. Both Commonwealth and State policy in the areas of health and education require effective broadband communication to remote Australia.
"NewSat is poised to provide the bridging services for remote Australia; to be the broadband communications glue between terrestrial and wireless components of the NBN," said Mr Ballintine.
Contact
John Walker
TEL: +61-3-9674-4644
FAX: +61-3-9674-4655
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