Fixed wireless increase

The company rolling out Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN) has announced an increase in data allowances for customers on its long-term satellite solution, now offering up to 150GB per month plus 50GB extra for distance education students, having freed up satellite capacity by moving 40,000 premises to its fixed-wireless or fixed-line networks.

The 150GB plan is available as a basic wholesale package, divided into 75GB off peak -- to be used between 1am and 7am -- and 75GB on peak. The company is also debating allowing retail service providers (RSPs) to offer packages with 150GB per month peak usage.

"Using the full extent available capacity on the second satellite, we've determined that with an increase in the fixed-wireless footprint -- around about 40,000 services -- and optimisation of the rest of the environment, we can deliver that doubling of the basic plan for consumers in regional and remote Australia," Gavin Williams, NBN executive general manager of Fixed Wireless and Satellite Products, told media on Monday.

"So what that means is our basic service moves from an average download of 15GB a month to 30GB a month, and the maximum allowable package on most plans moving from 75GB plan to 75GB in peak, but a total size of 150GB. So that's a massive increase into what previously has been contemplated for the satellite basic plan."

Williams added that although the second satellite won't be launched until Q4 2016, the high-data plans will be available prior to this.

"We will initially load up Sky Muster, and the second satellite will then support growth once we need to, when Sky Muster is more occupied," he explained.