Latest news with #nbn
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Connecting remote Australian communities to the world
We're now on the precipice of the next giant leap in connectivity, as the nbn network prepares for a great acceleration. See all 8 stories. Connecting the furthest corners of the country, the nbn network unlocks access to essential services and new opportunities, which can improve the lives of Australians in remote communities. In a country as vast as Australia, it's critical to ensure that the benefits of access to reliable home internet aren't just available to city dwellers. In many ways, distance means that enhanced connectivity is even more important to those who live in remote communities. Australians who live far from the amenities and infrastructure that others take for granted depend on reliable internet to access critical services and take advantage of a broader range of economic opportunities. Telehealth ensures that all Australians have access to world-class medical services, while high-speed broadband also enables the transfer of large files such as radiology scans. Remote learning allows Australians to study at the nation's best universities without the need to relocate, and as more businesses embrace remote working, employers can tap into a wealth of talent from coast to coast, not just in major cities. Emerging home-entertainment technologies are also more demanding when it comes to bandwidth. Streaming 4K video can require three to four times more data than full high definition, while cloud gaming can consume 14 to 24 times more data than full high-definition video streaming. The evolution of the nbn network for remote connectivity The good news is that Australia's broadband infrastructure is evolving to try and meet these growing needs. When it comes to broadband connectivity, the nbn has significantly expanded the full Fibre To The Premises footprint, offering upgrade options to all premises still connected by Fibre To The Node, while wireless alternatives allow Aussies who live outside major population centres to stay connected to the information superhighway. nbn's Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster satellites are two of the key technologies connecting remote Australians to the internet. These technologies continue to be upgraded to improve performance and keep pace with growing demand.
The Age
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Connecting remote Australian communities to the world
We're now on the precipice of the next giant leap in connectivity, as the nbn network prepares for a great acceleration. See all 8 stories. Connecting the furthest corners of the country, the nbn network unlocks access to essential services and new opportunities, which can improve the lives of Australians in remote communities. In a country as vast as Australia, it's critical to ensure that the benefits of access to reliable home internet aren't just available to city dwellers. In many ways, distance means that enhanced connectivity is even more important to those who live in remote communities. Australians who live far from the amenities and infrastructure that others take for granted depend on reliable internet to access critical services and take advantage of a broader range of economic opportunities. Telehealth ensures that all Australians have access to world-class medical services, while high-speed broadband also enables the transfer of large files such as radiology scans. Remote learning allows Australians to study at the nation's best universities without the need to relocate, and as more businesses embrace remote working, employers can tap into a wealth of talent from coast to coast, not just in major cities. Emerging home-entertainment technologies are also more demanding when it comes to bandwidth. Streaming 4K video can require three to four times more data than full high definition, while cloud gaming can consume 14 to 24 times more data than full high-definition video streaming. The evolution of the nbn network for remote connectivity The good news is that Australia's broadband infrastructure is evolving to try and meet these growing needs. When it comes to broadband connectivity, the nbn has significantly expanded the full Fibre To The Premises footprint, offering upgrade options to all premises still connected by Fibre To The Node, while wireless alternatives allow Aussies who live outside major population centres to stay connected to the information superhighway. nbn's Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster satellites are two of the key technologies connecting remote Australians to the internet. These technologies continue to be upgraded to improve performance and keep pace with growing demand.
The Age
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Six exciting advancements coming to a smart home near you
We're now on the precipice of the next giant leap in connectivity, as the nbn network prepares for a great acceleration. See all 7 stories. From keeping your family entertained to ensuring everyone is safe and sound, a new wave of technology is set to make Australian homes smarter than ever. Not so long ago, the ability to dim your lounge-room lights without getting off the couch was considered the height of smart-home technology. These days, smart technology is extending to every corner of our homes, working together to create a truly smart home rather than just a collection of smart devices. Keep in mind, many of these new devices and applications tend to be hungry for bandwidth. The average Australian household already downloads seven and a half times more data than it did a decade ago, and this is expected to double again within the next seven years. Uploads are also increasing, predicted to double in the next four years. The desire for speed makes fast and reliable broadband the cornerstone of any Australian smart home. The good news is that nbn is continuing to remove ageing copper wire from its Australia-wide network, offering millions of homes and businesses the opportunity to upgrade to full fibre to their premises. From September, nbn is also accelerating the speeds on its top three residential wholesale speed tiers for homes and businesses with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections, without changing the wholesale prices. This means, for example, an nbn 100 plan (Home Fast) will offer five times faster download speeds (500 Mbps) and double the upload speeds (50 Mbps). Fast, efficient broadband means the network can handle not only the 25 connected devices an average broadband home has today, but also the 44 we're expected to have by the end of the decade. Here are six smart home advancements heading your way. 1. Virtual and augmented reality Smart TVs and even smart mirrors are bringing 4K Ultra HD streaming video to every room, but home entertainment is set to become even more immersive thanks to the rise of virtual and augmented reality. A virtual reality headset completely blocks your view of the real world to transport you to another realm, while augmented reality superimposes information over your view of the real world around you — a bit like a fighter pilot's heads-up display.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Six exciting advancements coming to a smart home near you
From keeping your family entertained to ensuring everyone is safe and sound, a new wave of technology is set to make Australian homes smarter than ever. Not so long ago, the ability to dim your lounge-room lights without getting off the couch was considered the height of smart-home technology. These days, smart technology is extending to every corner of our homes, working together to create a truly smart home rather than just a collection of smart devices. Keep in mind, many of these new devices and applications tend to be hungry for bandwidth. The average Australian household already downloads seven and a half times more data than it did a decade ago, and this is expected to double again within the next seven years. Uploads are also increasing, predicted to double in the next four years. The desire for speed makes fast and reliable broadband the cornerstone of any Australian smart home. The good news is that nbn is continuing to remove ageing copper wire from its Australia-wide network, offering millions of homes and businesses the opportunity to upgrade to full fibre to their premises. From September, nbn is also accelerating the speeds on its top three residential wholesale speed tiers for homes and businesses with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections, without changing the wholesale prices. This means, for example, an nbn 100 plan (Home Fast) will offer five times faster download speeds (500 Mbps) and double the upload speeds (50 Mbps). Fast, efficient broadband means the network can handle not only the 25 connected devices an average broadband home has today, but also the 44 we're expected to have by the end of the decade. Here are six smart home advancements heading your way. 1. Virtual and augmented reality Smart TVs and even smart mirrors are bringing 4K Ultra HD streaming video to every room, but home entertainment is set to become even more immersive thanks to the rise of virtual and augmented reality. A virtual reality headset completely blocks your view of the real world to transport you to another realm, while augmented reality superimposes information over your view of the real world around you — a bit like a fighter pilot's heads-up display.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
What does the internet have to do with your wellbeing? Turns out, quite a bit
'Connecting with others isn't just something we enjoy, it's actually something we're wired to need,' says Rachel Tomlinson, a registered psychologist and clinical manager at digital psychology clinic My Mirror. 'Living in groups once kept us safe and today that need for belonging and strong relationships can still shape our mental and physical health.' Our craving for connection may not have changed much, but the way we go about it couldn't be more different. Whether it's via a video call with your niece on her graduation day, or a quick check-in with your favourite online community for advice on an upcoming kitchen renovation, our interactions with others now happen when, where and how it suits us. And it turns out, that's not just convenient, it's also good for our wellbeing. The power of connection Maintaining strong social bonds can reduce stress levels, give us a sense of belonging and improve resilience, says Tomlinson. There may be physical benefits too, including a lower risk of depression and heart disease. 'Face-to-face interactions tend to have the strongest effect, but online connections are also valuable,' Tomlinson adds. 'The important part is connection and the quality of the relationships, not just the method.' While online relationships can sometimes be dismissed as being shallow or inauthentic, Tomlinson says this is untrue. 'Research suggests that virtual connections can be just as supportive, fulfilling and emotionally rich as offline relationships.' Plus at times they can offer pathways to connection that might otherwise not be possible for people who find in-person interactions challenging, whether due to isolation, anxiety or their physical abilities. 'Our ability to communicate with existing people or find new relationships or communities based around shared interests is easier than ever,' Tomlinson notes. Research commissioned by nbn backs this up, with nine out of 10 nbn users saying they've connected online with friends, family or new people in the past two years. Almost half of them report feeling less lonely or isolated thanks to social connection online. Bridging the health gap For Dr Desmond Graham, a geriatrician, chief medical officer at Geriatric Care Australia and host of the Healthy Ageing podcast, online connections have emerged as a vital contributor to the wellbeing of older Australians. 'When we talk about healthy ageing strategies, we talk about five key areas: nutrition, physical activity, mental activity, socialising and management of chronic health conditions,' he says. 'Digital technologies have allowed older people access to all five areas in the comfort of their own home, irrespective of where they live.'
