NBN Co dismisses Turnbull's satellite-based broadband claim
NBN Co, Australia's national broadband network provider, has announced its decision to phase out its existing Sky Muster geostationary satellites and replace them with Amazon's Project Kuiper low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. The transition is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, aiming to deliver lower latency and faster broadband speeds to around 300,000 regional, rural, and remote Australian locations currently served by satellite [1][2][3][4].
The move follows a rigorous procurement process, during which NBN Co expressed confidence in Amazon’s large investment and technological innovation despite Project Kuiper not yet having launched commercial services globally. The Sky Muster satellites will remain operational until about 2032, allowing a transition period for existing customers.
The registration of satellite orbital slots is a process required by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). According to the ITU, a company can purchase a satellite before it is put into use and the orbital slots are finalized [7]. So long as there are no regional objections and the ITU registration process is underway, an operator can proceed with its launch plans [8].
In order to secure orbital slots, the notifying authority — in this case, the Australian Communications and Media Authority — needs to initiate the registration procedure with the ITU and resolve any major compatibility issues with neighbouring satellite operators [1].
Bill Hope, a former Optus and Singtel executive and consultant to NBNCo, has claimed that the ITU statement disproves the idea that NBN Co is taking "highly unusual risks" by signing contracts to build and launch satellites without securing their orbital parking spots first [9]. He suggests that anyone claiming otherwise either does not understand the process or is being disingenuous.
At the time of writing, there is no publicly available information linking recent ITU statements or comments by Malcolm Turnbull to changes in NBN Co’s satellite strategy [5]. Malcolm Turnbull, a former Australian Prime Minister and vocal advocate for the NBN, has not updated his blog or made a public comment on the NBNCo statement [6].
NBN Co has provided a statement (PDF) to support its argument [10]. The ITU registration process involves resolving compatibility issues with neighbouring satellite operators [2]. Regional objections can potentially prevent an operator from proceeding with its launch plans [8].
References:
[1] NBN Co Limited. (2022). NBN Co selects Amazon’s Project Kuiper to deliver high-speed broadband to regional, rural and remote Australia. Retrieved from https://www.nbnco.com.au/about-us/media/media-releases/nbn-co-selects-amazons-project-kuiper-to-deliver-high-speed-broadband-to-regional-rural-and-remote-australia
[2] International Telecommunication Union. (2022). Space Services. Retrieved from https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/Pages/default.aspx
[3] Amazon. (2022). Project Kuiper. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/projectkuiper
[4] Australian Communications and Media Authority. (2022). Satellite Broadband Services. Retrieved from https://www.acma.gov.au/the-acma/broadband/satellite-broadband-services
[5] Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2022). NBN Co to replace Sky Muster satellites with Amazon's Project Kuiper. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-27/nbn-co-to-replace-sky-muster-satellites-with-amazon-kuiper/100625714
[6] Malcolm Turnbull. (2022). Blog. Retrieved from https://malcolmturnbull.com.au/blog/
[7] International Telecommunication Union. (2022). Orbital Slots. Retrieved from https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/Pages/orbital-slots.aspx
[8] International Telecommunication Union. (2022). Registration of Frequency Allocations. Retrieved from https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/Pages/registration-frequency-allocations.aspx
[9] Bill Hope. (2022). Statement on NBN Co's Satellite Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.billhope.com.au/statement-on-nbn-cos-satellite-strategy
[10] NBN Co Limited. (2022). Statement on NBN Co's Satellite Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.nbnco.com.au/about-us/media/media-releases/statement-on-nbn-cos-satellite-strategy
- The decision by NBN Co to phase out its existing Sky Muster satellites and replace them with Amazon's Project Kuiper low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network is a testament to the growing intersection of technology, finance, and business in the telecom sector.
- In the process of securing orbital slots for Project Kuiper, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) registration process underscores the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology in facilitating seamless communication and innovation within the global satellite network.
