NBN Co ready to go with interim satellite solution

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 19 August 2010 11:14

Business IT - Networking

NBN Co this week issued the first draft of its product overview for its planned satellite service, which will be offered on its own satellites several years hence. Meanwhile, it says it now has government approval for its interim solution.

NBN Co CEO, Mike Quigley told iTWire yesterday after delivering the Telecommunications Society's Charles Todd Oration. "We have submitted proposals to the Government which they have considered and accepted and we are ploughing ahead with those. And you will see a series of proposals and tenders coming out from us."

He added. "We know there are satellites up there with considerable capacity that can considerable improve the existing [Australian Broadband Guarantee scheme."

Earlier this year iTWire reported on a draft NBN Co proposal to take over existing supply contracts between retail service providers delivering subsidised satellite services under the Australian Broadband Guarantee scheme and satellite operators - predominantly IPStar and to a lesser extent Optus.

There are about 90,000 customers served by satellite under the ABG programme. It is presently funded only until June 2012. The NBN Co proposals aimed to provide an acceptable satellite broadband service out to 2014. NBN Co's long term satellite service, will serve about 200,000 remote users.

In the long term NBN Co is planning to offer satellite based access services with initial bandwidths of up to 12Mbps downstream and 4Mbps upstream suitable for consumer and business end users along with specialist satellite based access services and IP multicast capability for streaming applications such as TV services, digital advertising, executive presentations to staff or training sessions.