The National Broadband Network (NBN) has partnered with Amazon to deliver the next generation of satellite broadband to regional and remote Australia.
NBN Co Chief Executive Officer Ellie Sweeney said high-speed, wholesale fixed broadband to customers in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia would soon be delivered via Project Kuiper’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology.
Ms Sweeney said Project Kuiper was Amazon’s satellite broadband business that it was planning to launch in Australia from the middle of 2026.
She said when Project Kuiper launched in Australia, NBN Co planned to offer wholesale residential-grade fixed LEO satellite broadband services to more than 300,000 premises within their existing satellite footprint via participating Retail Service Providers (RSPs).
“The agreement will enable NBN Co to transition from its existing geostationary Sky Muster satellite service over the coming years and will complement NBN Co’s investments in fibre and fixed wireless upgrades for regional Australia.”
Ms Sweeney said NBN Co would shortly start consultation with RSPs, regional communities and stakeholders, to help inform what speed tiers were offered, wholesale pricing and the upgrade for customers.
She said the consultation would consider the offer of equipment and professional initial standard installation and assurance at no cost for existing eligible1 NBN satellite customers, via participating RSPs.
“Project Kuiper’s low-latency, high-bandwidth satellite network will provide significant improvements to the quality and reliability of broadband for eligible regional, rural and remote communities.”
Ms Sweeney said to achieve its goals, Project Kuiper was deploying thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, connected to each other by high-speed optical links that would create a mesh network in space, and linked to a global network of antennas, fibre, and internet connection points on the ground.
She said the initial satellite constellation would include more than 3200 satellites, which began deploying in April.
“LEO satellite broadband will be a major leap forward for customers in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia.
“Transitioning from two geostationary satellites to a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites will help to ensure the nbn network is future-ready and delivers the best possible broadband experience to customers living and working in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia.”
