<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336482</docID> <postdate>2025-01-14 12:18:46</postdate> <headline>Funding NBN limits ‘risk’ posed by Musk’s Starlink</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-156162" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NBN.png" alt="" width="699" height="494" /></p> <caption>Cartoon: Paul Dorin</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Kat Wong</strong> and <strong>Tess Ikonomou</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Giving more Australians access to faster internet through the National Broadband Network will help tackle issues posed by Elon Musk's Starlink service.</strong></p> <p>Australians living in areas without reliable internet connection are increasingly turning to the Starlink satellite internet service.</p> <p>But a regional telecommunications review released in December has found systems such as Starlink are owned by foreign companies, which raises questions about data security and sovereign risks.</p> <p>It is part of the reason it is so important for the government to expand its Australian-owned NBN, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said.</p> <p>"(Starlink) is a risk in areas where there is no credible substitute," she told ABC radio on Tuesday.</p> <p>This is particularly prevalent in areas where internet is provided through the slower, copper network, rather than fibre.</p> <p>"Fibre continues to be the standard when it comes to capability, to speeds but also in terms of long-term reliability," she said.</p> <p>"It is impervious compared to other forms of technology.</p> <p>"We want to make sure that Australians continue to have access to reliable, affordable broadband."</p> <p>A $3 billion boost to complete work on the National Broadband Network, will upgrade the service to about 620,000 homes and businesses, with more than half located in regional areas.</p> <p>NBN Co, the commonwealth company responsible for the network, will also spend $800 million on the works expected to be completed at the end of 2030.</p> <p>Analyst Paul Budde said without high-quality broadband, regional areas would be damaged enormously.</p> <p>"The key reason for having an NBN is the national importance," he told AAP.</p> <p>"It supports our society, healthcare, education, communication ... it's critical for the economy.</p> <p>"We now have a digital economy so without proper digital infrastructure, you can't run a digital economy."</p> <p>An upgrade would also provide access to education and health services, helping people stay in regional and rural communities, he added.</p> <p>The federal government is aiming to pass laws to keep the NBN in public hands, as parliament resumes in February.</p> <p>Mr Budde said privatisation of the network should not be considered as the telecommunications market was under pressure.</p> <p>"All telcos are suffering," he said.</p> <p>"It's the big digital companies that are making the big profits. They're all using the infrastructure, but they're not paying for it.</p> </body>