The viability of new satellites to provide reliable mobile connectivity in remote Australia will be tested over the coming months.
The trials, under way in 50 regional and remote locations across the country, will test voice services delivered over low earth orbit satellites (LEOSats) and compare results with existing NBN Co fixed wireless and satellite services to provide a comparison.
Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the trials, which would run until the middle of next year, would collect data on the reliability and quality of voice calls, and test impacts of weather conditions on services.
Minister Rowland said this would allow the performance of services to be considered across a representative range of regions across Australia, including over the northern Australia wet season.
She said Scyne Advisory would independently deliver the fixed voice service trials and data collected would be made publicly available from next month.
