Northern Territory students are set to benefit from a new ‘multicast’ trial using the nbn™ Sky Muster™ satellite service to help their learning experience.

Today, we announced that students from the School of the Air (SOA) in the Northern Territory will soon enjoy access to fast broadband services as part of NBN Co’s new ‘multicast’ technology trial using the nbn™ Sky Muster™ satellite service.

NBN Co is committed to supporting Australia’s most remotely located students. We know how crucial internet access is for their ability to take lessons and harness the latest technologies, to help our kids grow, progress and succeed.

The trial is expected to benefit geographically isolated students across 15 locations – including Alice Springs, Katherine and Ludmilla – by helping to deliver higher resolution video and audio lessons, and enable smoother communication with their teachers.

Connecting the School of the Air

Teaching students online.

The School of the Air provides vital educational opportunities to students living in remote communities, who traditionally use high-frequency radios to communicate with their teachers.

More recently, to enhance the students’ learning experience, teachers are using video cameras and electronic whiteboards to give lessons via satellite.

The trial is expected to deliver improved online learning experiences that students may not be able to access on their current service, such as online exams with time limits. It may also play a role in transforming how children in the bush learn and interact with their teachers.*

A music lesson.

Wendy Hicks from the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (NT) is excited about the prospect of further integrating online learning through technology.

“It will mean children in some of the most isolated locations in Australia should now be able to interact with their teachers, many who are located thousands of kilometres away, and the benefits of this face to face, video style learning will really help with their education experience and outcomes.”*

For more information on the nbn™ Sky Muster™ Satellite service, check out our Sky Muster™ home page.

* Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ broadband access network, depends on the technology over which services are delivered to your premises and some factors outside our control (like your equipment quality, software, signal quality, broadband plan and how your service provider designs its network). Satellite end users may experience latency.