AHEAD of the higher-risk weather season, nbn has worked with Dungog Shire Council to run checks on designated sites installed with nbn’s Disaster Satellite Services.
Since 2020, nbn has made satellite services available during a disaster or emergency. This includes over 1000 fixed locations around Australia funded by the Commonwealth Government’s STAND (Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters) program.
The STAND program has helped keep emergency services, businesses and residents connected to back-up connectivity when traditional ground-based telecommunications networks have been impacted.
The testing provides an opportunity to identify issues with this infrastructure before an emergency and supports broader disaster-season preparations, ensuring the six STAND locations across the shire are operating correctly.
STAND sites are located in Dungog, Clarence Town, Gresford, and Paterson and are used when called up by local emergency management officers.
“Emergency preparation combines resilient infrastructure with practical planning, as well as strong local relationships, said Tom O’Dea, Head of Regional Engagement NSW at nbn.
“For nbn, this can include working closely with councils to test our equipment so that this important infrastructure is operational and ready to support local communities during an emergency.
“Preparation happens well before the weather arrives. That is why the most important message is to prepare now.
“Keep a charged mobile phone and portable battery pack in your emergency kit, have more than one way to receive information, and understand the emergency arrangements in your local area.”
Preparation was critical for regional communities, according to Dungog Shire Mayor Digby Rayward.
“In communities like ours, we know how quickly severe weather and natural disasters can affect the way we live, travel and communicate,” he said.
“Preparing before an emergency happens is incredibly important.”
Extreme weather can affect both power and telecommunications networks. Your connectivity can be impacted by damage to the nbn® network, as well as power outages as equipment across the nbn® network, and within homes and businesses, requires power.
nbn encourages residents to:
– Keep a fully charged mobile phone and portable battery pack in their emergency kit
– Consider alternative communications and power options, particularly where staying connected is critical
– Use a battery-powered radio for receiving emergency information
– Safely back up important documents, including insurance and financial information
– Understand local emergency arrangements and follow advice from emergency services
– Regularly test household emergency and business continuity plans.
For further information about preparing for an emergency, go to https://www.nbnco.com.au/emergency.
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