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Satellite Technology revolutionizes Emergency Services in Remote WA, Raises Concerns about Light Pollution
The Shire of Yalgoo, a remote local government area in Western Australia, is experiencing a significant upgrade in emergency communication capabilities thanks to the increasing availability of satellite technology, notably Low Earth Orbit (LEO) systems like Starlink. This advancement is transforming response times for critical services like fire and rescue, police, and ambulance.
Historically, much of the 18,770 square kilometer Shire of Yalgoo relied on slow and unreliable satellite phone connections. CEO Ian Holland explained that this limited communication posed a major challenge for emergency responders. “A lot of our area historically hasn’t been covered by anything other than a really slow-to-connect sat [satellite] phone,” he said.
Recent investments have seen Starlink units deployed in Shire of Yalgoo fire trucks, and Western Australia Police and St John Ambulance are also integrating LEO equipment into their operations. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, offers significantly faster speeds and lower latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites.
“Even just being able to make that phone call, talking with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) about a medical emergency, and anything that makes response faster and allows peopel to be tracked down faster is a massive boom to emergency services out here.”
Ian Holland says while the satellites are great for isolated locations, the night sky becomes full of streaking satellites. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)
While the increased competition among satellite providers – including Starlink, OneWeb, and Kuiper (Amazon’s planned satellite internet constellation) – is expected to benefit consumers with lower prices and improved service, Mr. Holland highlighted a growing concern: light pollution. The proliferation of LEO satellites is making the night sky increasingly crowded with visible trails.
“from a night sky perspective, we can already look up and see the trails of these objects flying through,” Mr Holland said. “I think that’s the reality of where technology is going within this space.” the Shire of Yalgoo, known for its dark skies and potential for astrotourism,