The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co), the Australian PPP tasked with providing universal broadband services across the country, said its plans to launch two satellites in 2015 are following the correct approvals process.
In mid-April, Shadow…
The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co), the Australian PPP tasked with providing universal broadband services across the country, said its plans to launch two satellites in 2015 are following the correct approvals process.
In mid-April, Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull had reportedly suggested that NBN Co was taking unnecessary risks by purchasing satellites before having finalised its orbital positions over Australia.
However, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said, according to NBN Co, that it is “possible for a company to purchase a satellite in advance of it being put into use and the orbital slots being finalised.
“In order to secure those slots, the notifying authority, which in Australia is the Australian Communications and Media Authority, needs to (a) initialise the registration procedure with the ITU, and (b) resolve any major compatibility issues with operators of neighbouring satellites. So as long as there are no regional objections and the ITU registration process is underway, an operator can proceed with its launch plans,” the ITU was quoted saying in an NBN Co statement.
The PPP added it has been pursuing the ITU international frequency coordination process since August 2010.
In early February, the company announced that it had selected manufacturer Space Systems Loral (SS/L) to build the two next-generation Ka-band satellites. The contract for both birds is valued at A$620m (US$670m).
Before that, Marsh had won the broker tender to place launch plus one insurance for the two satellites and to advise the company on its order process.
NBN Co said, a few months ago, that it was still evaluating supplier submissions for the construction of satellite ground systems and that it would soon release a tender to place the bids into orbit.
The satellites, scheduled to be launched in 2015, will provide high-speed broadband coverage to approximately 3% of premises outside of the reach of the NBN’s fibre optic and wireless services.
In the meantime, an interim satellite service has been put up in place. The PPP said in June last year that it signed contracts with both Optus and IPstar for satellite services and satellite capacity to provide download speeds of up to 6Mbps until 2015.
NBN Co plans to invest A$36bn (US$37bn) in a fibre network expected to provide up to 100 Mbps to 93% of homes and businesses. The remaining premises are to be serviced by wireless and satellite technologies providing a minimum speed of at least 12 Mbps.
