4-minute read

Living in a rural farming community, far from the hustle and bustle, the Single family embrace their lifestyle.

Nestled 50 kilometres from Coonamble, NSW, Sharon Single and her husband, Tony, live on the Single-family farm, cropping about 4000 hectares as well as running a trade cattle enterprise.

Here, they farm an array of crops, including wheat, barley, chickpeas, faba beans, canola, and sorghum.

Beyond the farm's boundaries, the Singles embrace a multifaceted life that encompasses family, work and community involvement.

With two young daughters and a third child on the way, their family life is both busy and dynamic.

By harnessing the power of their nbn^® Sky Muster^® Plus Premium plan, the family have discovered a way to balance their unique lifestyle.

Life on the farm

Their day begins early, especially during harvest.

"I prepare breakfast for the girls and usually allow screen time watching Bluey or Play School on ABC iView while I get some chores done and control our chaos," says Sharon.

Sharon arranges playdates and activities, recognising the importance of keeping her farm kids engaged with the world beyond their paddocks.

When physical gatherings aren't feasible, she facilitates video calls with family and friends to ensure her children's growth extends beyond the farm.

"We try to get the kids outside before it heats up too much," Sharon says, emphasising the importance of outdoor activities for her little ones.

Sharon's volunteer work keeps her connected to the online world, where she monitors social media, engages in discussions, and collaborates with community members.

To stay connected to the latest agronomic research and information relevant to the farm, she relies on the internet.

“It's not uncommon to receive a phone call from the paddock, asking for expertise or assistance with various farm-related tasks,” says Sharon.

Meanwhile, Tony‘s days vary depending on the farming season. From planting to harvesting, he’s hands-on with all farm operations.

Alongside fieldwork and agronomy, he manages the business. This includes the vital economic and financial responsibilities that are key to operating a successful farm.

The vital role of satellite connectivity

For the Singles, living in a remote area and running a modern farm business, reliable^# internet connectivity is not a luxury but a lifeline.

“The internet makes our lives less isolated. It’s also valuable for our girls’ education and provides access to health.”

“During my pregnancy, I used telehealth to minimise the need for travel. All of this is available because we have reliable^# internet connectivity," says Sharon.

On the business side, their reliance on the internet is equally critical.

Payroll, record-keeping, communication, invoices, research and training – all aspects of their farm operation – are now conducted online.

They can source the best professionals and advisors without worrying about geographic limitations.

“We use our family's proprietary drone technology – a weed mapping sensor, allowing us to do our control programming.”

“We also need a good internet connection^# to upload the images and provide information to professionals and technical advisors no matter where they are located.”

"It's impossible to run a modern business these days without reliable and fast internet^# to use voice and data,” says Sharon.

The Singles moved to nbn’s Sky Muster satellite service a few years ago when their mobile data service deteriorated.

The premium experience

Switching to nbn’s Sky Muster Plus Premium has been a game-changer for the Singles.

"We are moderate data users, with periods when we have usage spikes.”

“Now we can stream a football game or movie in high definition without worrying about monitoring our data usage^## or slowing down, which would make uploading difficult for our business.”

“When streaming or downloading larger files we have noticed increased speed^#.”

“Moving to Premium has also saved us money^###,” says Sharon.

Since switching to Sky Muster Plus Premium, they now have confidence in the operation of their internet activities.

Advice for rural Australians

Sharon offers advice to those in rural Australia considering a connection to the Sky Muster Plus Premium plan via their preferred provider.

"If you understand your data usage and you have a good idea of your needs, I'd recommend switching.”

“If you aren't sure about your data needs or find the process confusing, reach out to the Regional Tech Hub^####.”

“They'll do a free independent connectivity report and look at your options. It's a good solution for us, and as a family with a business that relies on internet, it's important to be connected."

The Single’s ability to balance family life, farming and off-farm commitments while staying connected and efficient is a testament to the power of Sky Muster Plus Premium.

As nbn continues to bridge the digital divide in regional Australia, stories like Sharon's inspire others seeking to make the most of modern technology in their everyday lives.

Important Information

nbn is very happy with the Single family’s experience with their nbn^® Sky Muster^® Plus Premium service over the nbn^® network. Of course, experiences may vary. Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn^® network depends on the nbn^® access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside nbn’s control like equipment quality, software, broadband plan, signal reception and how your service provider designs its network. For nbn Satellite, end customers may also experience latency.

Disclaimers

^# Note that an end user’s experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn broadband access network, depends on the nbn access technology and configuration over which services are delivered to their premises, whether they are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like their equipment quality, software or signal reception). For nbn Satellite, end customers may also experience latency.

^## Fair Use Policy and shaping apply.

^### nbn is a wholesaler and does not set retail prices. End users should contact their preferred internet service provider to ask about the retail prices they charge.

^####The Regional Tech Hub offers independent telecommunication advice for rural, regional and remote Australians. The Regional Tech Hub has been established in response to the Regional Telecommunications Review’s findings and is made possible through the Australian Government’s Stronger Regional Digital Connectivity funding package.