The National Broadband Network Company, the institution mandated to bring universal broadband to Australia, has called on satellite operators to submit proposals for the provision of internet services in rural areas.
NBN Co chief Mike Quigley said that…
The National Broadband Network Company, the institution mandated to bring universal broadband to Australia, has called on satellite operators to submit proposals for the provision of internet services in rural areas.
NBN Co chief Mike Quigley said that he was looking “for companies with proven capabilities to act as key suppliers.”
The benchmark promised by the Australian government for rural broadband speed is 12 Mbps, which points towards dedicated Ka-band coverage as the only means available for a satellite operator to reach that level.
With no Ka-band satellite pointed towards Australia, it seems likely that any operator selected to provide broadband services will receive funding towards the construction of a new Ka-band capable spacecraft. The government has allocated A$43bn towards the construction of a broadband network that provides every Australian with fast internet access.
Evaluation of capability statements must be submitted by February 15. After that, NBN Co anticipates that it will invite five to ten companies to participate in a formal request for proposal process.
In December, Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that Ka-band satellites would play a vital role in connecting rural areas where the government will not be able to extend its new fast fibre network.
The most well-placed Australian contender is Optus, which has the largest fleet of conventional Ku-band satellites over the country.
However, two smaller domestic companies have stated their interest in being involved in the process in the past.
Satellite service provider Newsat has a well documented plan to develop a broadband satellite. Its past appeals for government funding have fallen through, but that was prior to the Communications Ministry’s acceptance that satellites must play a role in the rural areas.
Another Australian company with broadband ambitions is KaComm, a start-up would-be operator of a Ka-band satellite. KaComm claims to own unique regulatory rights to Ka-band spectrum that it secured through the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). These regulatory filings apply to orbital slots at 137.9E and 154E.
