Blast-off for first nbn satellite

nbn today successfully launched its first broadband satellite into orbit.

Blasting 36,000 km into space from Guiana Space Centre in South America, Sky Muster is one of the world’s most advanced communication satellites and will play a critical role in providing fast broadband access to around 400,000 Australian homes and businesses.

The satellite will undergo final technical testing ahead of its commercial launch around mid-2016 which, once available, will provide wholesale speeds significantly of up to 25 Mbps for downloading and up to 5 Mbps for uploading.

nbn CEO Bill Morrow said the satellite will provide access to fast broadband for the parts of Australia that need it most.

“With the launch of Sky Muster, we’re one step closer to changing the digital face of our nation,” Morrow said.

“The ability to videoconference friends and family, study courses online and visit doctors from your lounge room will all be possible in areas which have traditionally struggled to access basic internet services like online banking and shopping.”

Morrow said many homes and businesses in regional and rural Australia still rely on dial-up level speeds and have little or no access to a commercial broadband service; however, this satellite will help to close the divide.

nbn aims to provide a fast broadband network connecting eight million homes and businesses by 2020.

Image courtesy of nbn co limited