Optus to operate NBN Co's satellites

Optus has secured the contract to operate NBN Co’s fleet of two dedicated satellites once they lift off in 2015.

Under the five-year agreement, Optus will provide tracking, telemetry and control services for the two satellites, which will be used to deliver the NBN’s Long Term Satellite Service.

Optus will control the two Ka band satellites from its satellite ground station facility in Belrose, Sydney.

The contract, which has options for extension up to a further 15 years, was awarded through a competitive tender process.

Optus already holds the contract to supply managed services for NBN Co’s Interim Satellite Service (ISS), which is being used to serve regional areas in advance of the launch of the two dedicated satellites.

NBN Co was this month forced to stop taking new subscriptions to the ISS after the 48,000 subscriber limit was reached. ISP iiNet had already stopped taking on new NBN Interim Satellite customers several months earlier, stating that the number of users was rendering the service “almost unusable” in peak periods.

The dedicated satellites will by contrast be able to deliver dedicated broadband services for 200,000 premises.

“Satellite broadband will help bridge the divide between the city and the bush,” NBN Co Program Director for Satellite Matt Dawson said. “The two new NBN satellites are designed to deliver a dedicated broadband service for remote parts of the country at speeds people in the city take for granted.”

Commercial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Image courtesy of Oran Viriyincy under CC