NBN Co, the company responsible for Australia’s National Broadband Network, is conducting a formal assessment of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based internet services to explore their potential integration into its network. NBN Co has released a closed request for information (RFI) to gain insights into the offerings of LEO operators. The assessment of the responses is expected to take several months.
The purpose of this assessment is to understand how LEO satellite technology could be utilized within NBN Co’s network, taking into account the scale of the NBN satellite footprint and user base. NBN Co aims to evaluate if the unique obligations of the NBN, such as price certainty, network and data sovereignty, and local support options, can be met by LEO operators.
Jason Ashton, the executive general manager for fixed wireless and satellite at NBN Co, expressed their belief that LEO satellite technology could play a role in the future of their network. The company is engaging with potential service providers to determine the feasibility of incorporating LEO-based services.
NBN Co has been considering the use of LEO-based services for several years. As part of its ongoing network optimization, certain portions of NBN Co’s satellite footprint are slated for a change in access technology. Some premises will transition to fixed wireless or fiber connections. However, NBN Co still anticipates having around 300,000 premises within its satellite footprint by the end of 2024.
Although the number of active satellite services is lower, with 96,363 services in operation (SIO) reported by NBN Co at the end of March, there has been a decline in Sky Muster subscribers over the past year. This decline can be attributed to the availability and expansion of LEO services like Starlink. NBN Co acknowledges this trend but maintains that Sky Muster remains a critical part of their network. They also mentioned that the service would be enhanced due to the reduced number of users, which translates to increased capacity.