The National Broadband Network Company (Australia) has called on satellite network operators and equipment vendors to submit proposals for the delivery and operation of satellite internet services in the bush.
The provision of satellite services in the $43 billion NBN build along with wireless technologies is needed to supply the remaining 10 per cent of the nation with 12 megabits per second (Mbps) broadband connections.
The other 90 per cent of the population will be serviced by a fibre-to-the-home network capable of delivery internet connection speeds up to 100Mbps.
NBN Co is looking for companies with proven capabilities to act as key suppliers in what represents an important nation-building project and engineering challenge," NBN Co executive chairman Mike Quigley said. "This is an important milestone in the progress of the project, particularly for the provision of high-speed broadband services to rural and regional Australia.
Following an evaluation of capability statements NBN Co will invite five to 10 suppliers to participate in a formal request for proposal process.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has said next-generation satellites will play an important role in the NBN to link premises in regional Australia where it is economically unfeasible to lay fibre.
However, satellites that are capable of transmitting broadband speeds at 12 megabits per second the minimum broadband speed mandated by the government operate on a different transmission frequency to satellites that currently service rural and regional areas.
Optus owns and operates Australias largest fleet of broadcast satellites but its current generation of satellites are ***not capable*** of delivering the network speeds mandated by the NBN.
To achieve speeds mandated by the NBN Co, Optus would need to launch the next-generation of KA-band satellites.
- They said 3 years TG
Source: Mitchell Bingemann, Australian IT
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