NBN Co launches satellite services

The National Broadband Network company has started offering commercial services via its Interim Satellite Service designed for residents, small businesses and indigenous communities in rural Australia.

Four retail service providers are offering NBN Co's Interim Satellite services: Bordernet, Clear Networks, Harbour IT and SkyMesh.

In mid July Activ8me and Reachnet will also offer the services.

The Interim Satellite Service will be in a ramp-up phase until November when additional capacity, a wider range of plans and more service providers are expected to be available.

The service intends to offer retail service providers a wholesale broadband service designed for peak access speeds of 6Mbps downlink and 1Mbps uplink.

The Interim Satellite Service is scheduled to run until 2015 when NBN Co plans to launch two of its own high-capacity satellites to provide a Long Term Satellite Service that will aim to offer retail service providers a wholesale broadband service designed for peak access speeds of 12Mbps downlink.

Potential customers living in rural and remote areas need to be checked for eligibility and are required to apply via NBN Co.

If they are eligible, applicants will be able to order a service via participating retail service providers and will receive equipment and installation for free.

The eligibility process will be similar to that used for the Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) programme which finished on 30 June 2011. ®