Broadband boost for Indigenous council areas
Through a $1.25 million commitment satellite dishes are being rapidly deployed in high priority locations across Queensland, providing more effective and reliable broadband coverage in many First Nations councils.
The Rapid Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Deployment Program has to date provided funding for 82 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite dishes to 17 Indigenous councils.
The program aims to provide improved digital infrastructure for an interim period while larger infrastructure projects are delivered to increase digital inclusion. Funding of $45,000 has been allocated for each community (more for the Torres Strait region), which will provide approximately 5 satellite dishes for each location.
The program is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the Local Government Association of Queensland, who is overseeing council applications and distribution of funding for the Starlink satellite dishes.
Council applications that have received approval for funding so far are:
- Aurukun
- Cherbourg
- Doomadgee
- Hope Vale
- Kowanyama
- Lockhart River
- Mapoon
- Mornington Island
- Napranum
- Northern Peninsula Area
- Palm Island
- Pormpuraaw
- Woorabinda
- Wujal Wujal
- Yarrabah
- Torres Shire
- Torres Strait Island Regional Council