Rocket carrying first NBN satellite blasts off

Isolated Australian communities are a step closer to high-speed internet after the successful launch of one of two new satellites specifically designed for the country’s National Broadband Network.

The first satellite, Sky Muster, has just launched from French Guiana (without incident, jeopardy factor now over) at a cost of A$500 million, is being cited as one of the largest and most expensive satellites ever launched.

Once in operation, the two satellites will service an area stretching from Cocos and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean across the mainland to Lord Howe Island in the Pacific Ocean and the subantarctic Macquarie Island.

The new satellite is estimated to provide 200,000 people with high speed internet connectivity, living in remote areas.

After its launch the satellite travelled through the earth’s atmosphere attached to the European-made Ariane 5 rocket at speeds approaching 11,000km/h for about 11 minutes before reaching space, the Financial Review’s James Chessell – who witnessed the take-off – reported.

Following Thursday’s launch, the government expects its Long Term Satellite Service (LTSS), which will deliver speeds of up to 25Mbps download and 5Mbps upload, will be available in 2016. The satellite is created to provide service for 15 years or more.

“SSL has proven itself as a reliable and innovative partner in developing the space segment for Australia’s broadband network, said Greg Adcock, chief operating officer of nbn“.

“It is perfectly positioned, deliberately, to serve Australia”, said Dawson. “Many of them are already paying substantial charges for either mobile broadband or existing and lesser-quality satellite broadband”, he noted. The organization’s goal is to deliver Australia’s first national wholesale-only, open access broadband network to all Australians, regardless of where they live.

Students have regular “in-school” weeks where they get a chance to meet their teachers and classmates in-person.

The NBN company has successfully launched the first of its long-term satellites, which promises better broadband for regional and remote Australia and increased capacity to provide telehealth services.

The new satellites boast a total capacity of 135Gbps compared with only 4Gbps for the interim satellite service, so Turnbull and his hand-chosen replacement, Mitch Fifield, can safely claim the upgraded service will be a considerable improvement.

“We understand that based on capacity constraints, we will see rural satellite users being subjected to lower download limits than those in metropolitan areas”.

According to the minister and the CEO, however, access to the satellite service does not necessarily involve placing a dish on each and every rural roof. “The only way we can get more capacity would be to build and launch another satellite – and that takes about five years”, a spokesman said.

The potential for improved telehealth services to remote areas is one of the main selling points of the satellite.