Latest news with #EllieSweeney
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
NBN Co is ditching Sky Muster for Amazon's LEO satellites, promising to bring 'city-fast' broadband to rural and remote Australians
There's less than six weeks to go until the major NBN speed boosts are heading our way, but NBN Co has let us in on a new secret they've been keeping — and it's a good one. Announced yesterday (5 August 2025), NBN Co has partnered up with Amazon's Project Kuiper to deliver 'city-fast' broadband speeds to rural and regional communities nationwide. Project Kuiper is Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite arm, which is set to debut its first commercial services in the US later this year. According to the announcement, Amazon's LEO satellite network is scheduled to launch in Australia in mid-2026, with Tasmania set to be the first area to gain access. To coincide with the launch of the new tech, NBN Co has confirmed the eventual phasing out of its existing Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus satellites. These existing satellites are expected to remain viable and operational until 2032. The current Sky Muster geostationary satellites service around 300,000 broadband connections across regional, rural and remote communities in Australia. The new agreement will see these connections, and new ones, transition from Sky Muster to Kuiper's LEO network in the coming years. NBN Co CEO Ellie Sweeney stated that the partnership will be a "major leap forward" for Australian satellite-internet customers. Sweeney noted that this partnership would bring lower latency and faster broadband speeds than those currently experienced on Sky Muster tech. "Australians deserve to have access to fast, effective broadband regardless of whether they live in a major city, on the outskirts of a country town or miles from their nearest neighbour," Sweeney said. "By upgrading to next-generation LEO satellite broadband powered by Project Kuiper, we are working to bring the best available technology to Aussies in the bush." Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. In order to achieve its goals, Project Kuiper will deploy thousands of LEO satellites, connected by high-speed optical links that will ultimately create a "mesh network in space". This web will be linked to a global network of antennas, fibre and internet connection points on Earth. Globally, the Kuiper network will include more than 3,200 satellites. Amazon has already deployed 78 satellites into space over three launches this year.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Amazon technology tapped for regional broadband boost
Regional Australia is set for a connectivity boost, with a tech giant partnering with the National Broadband Network to deliver city-quality internet. About 300,000 rural and regional premises would benefit from Amazon's Project Kuiper filling gaps in the national network from mid-2026. A rival to Elon Musk's Starlink, Kuiper uses low-earth orbit satellite technology to provide internet from space. Government ministers labelled Tuesday morning's announcement as a "game-changer". The Amazon technology will be phased in across the next four years, transitioning from the ageing Sky Muster satellites set to be decommissioned in the early 2030s. "Whether you live in Sydney or on the edge of a regional town (or) on a remote cattle station, every Australian deserves secure, resilient, fast and affordable broadband," NBN Co chief executive Ellie Sweeney said. "Those Sky Muster satellites have served remote Australia with distinction over the last decade, but times change and technology evolves, and Project Kuiper is one of the finest examples we think of what's possible, where innovation meets that ambition." NBN Co will soon begin consulting with stakeholders including regional communities to shape what speeds will be offered and wholesale pricing options. Existing NBN satellite customers might be offered equipment and professional installation at no cost. The Amazon partnership would be funded by NBN Co and won't require any taxpayer funds, Ms Sweeney said. Communications Minister Anika Wells said regional communities would be consulted closely on the transition. "Being more connected means Australians living anywhere will be better off, whether that is working from home, managing a regional business, accessing telehealth, video conferencing or online learning," she said. Kuiper has launched 78 satellites since it kicked off in April, but is set to ramp things up with its initial 'constellation' to feature 3200. Bush advocates, including Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia, said it was a major step in the right direction. "For people in the bush, connectivity isn't just convenient, it's critical," BIRRA head Kristy Sparrow said. "Choosing to live in regional Australia should never mean being excluded from accessing reliable and affordable telecommunications ... the deal introduces real consumer choice and brings much-needed competition and affordability." Starlink's satellite service has become increasingly popular in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre. But a regional telecommunications review released in December found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raised questions about data security and sovereign risks. It prompted a $3 billion boost to complete NBN service upgrades to about 620,000 homes and businesses.
