Vocus has revealed a remarkable surge in the adoption of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based internet services by various levels of government in Australia, spanning a range of applications.
Speaking at the Tech in Gov conference, Andrew Wildblood, Vocus’ CEO for enterprise and government, expressed his astonishment at the strong interest demonstrated by government bodies in LEOsat technology.
Vocus is presently offering services through Starlink and has future plans to leverage OneWeb’s network once it becomes operational.
Wildblood underscored the active involvement of federal, state, and local governments in embracing LEO technology. Notable early adopters include the Northern Beaches Council in Sydney, which employs Starlink to establish connectivity among 37 sites. Additionally, users encompass the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and Community Enterprise Queensland.
The application of LEOsat technology extends further to the Northern Territory, where services are aiding regional councils in remote indigenous communities, facilitating the Northern Land Council’s remote ranger stations, and supporting community health service providers in areas like the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress.
Wildblood also pointed out the participation of state police and emergency services operators in conducting trials and utilizing LEOsat technology.
In addressing concerns about sovereignty, Wildblood emphasized the necessity of locally backhauling data traffic through terrestrial infrastructure despite the utilization of global LEOsat networks. To this end, Vocus has proactively established 16 LEO ground stations along its fiber backbone, surpassing other operators in Australia.
Wildblood anticipates that Australia will significantly benefit from the expansion of LEOsat technology. He highlighted the transformative potential of LEOsat technology, portraying it as a universally accessible high-speed broadband service that effectively links even the most remote locations both domestically and internationally. The true extent of LEOsat technology’s impact on government clientele is just starting to unfold.
