The Long Term Satellite Service (Sky Muster) provides coverage of around 400,000 premises, and is expected to service between 200,000 – 250,000 connections. It is available to all residents who cannot access other NBN access technologies.
There are approximately 60,000 subscribers on the existing satellites ie 36,000 ISS, 20,000 ABG and 1200 NSS customers. The number of customers on Telstra satellite is not publicly known. A description of the different type of satellite technologies can be viewed here.
The NBN Interim Satellite Service will be decommissioned in February 2017 as the Optus and IPSTAR contracts expire at this time. NBN and the service providers are working very hard to move eligible ISS customers to Sky Muster.
Half of the Sky Muster installations are reserved for ISS migrations; however there are over 36,000 existing connections and they cannot all be physically re-connected to Sky Muster in a couple of months. Not all 36,000 ISS customers will move to Sky Muster. A good number will move to a terrestrially based NBN connection.
Some ISS customers are in areas that will, over time, be provided with an NBN Fixed Wireless or a Fibre derivative service. If the new NBN technology is not available towards the end of 2016, NBN will provide an interim Sky Muster connection to maintain service continuity.
There is also a large group of potential Sky Muster customers that currently receive a mobile broadband service. This group were ineligible for earlier satellite connections and can now apply for a Sky Muster service.
No matter which group you are in, prospective Sky Muster customers must select a provider and apply for a Sky Muster connection. No one is automatically transferred to Sky Muster.
NBN has determined that the number of existing customers that an RSP moves to Sky Muster each month is determined according to market share. The larger RSPs have more customers to move, so they have a larger allocation compared to the smaller RSPs. No matter which RSP you are with, all customers will be moved to Sky Muster in an equally fair and orderly manner.
The total number of installations per month is finally determined by the number of trained installers in the field. NBN has worked hard to ensure that there are sufficient installers available for the task. It is understood that the May 2016 install rate was around 5,000, June is expected to ramp up to 7,000 (as more installers come on line and the efficiency increases), July 10,000 and subsequent months 10,000+.
SkyMesh made an offer of connection priority to BIRRR and ICPA members because they could see the need. NBN made ICPA distance education students a priority. All service providers give priority to existing NBN ISS customers.
Despite the urgency of many BIRRR members to move to Sky Muster, there are also many customers that don’t place a high priority on their internet connection. It is anticipated that the Sky Muster connection rate will peak quite quickly and then begin to subside. Overtime, connection delays will become a thing of the past.
The current Sky Muster service providers plan comparison can be viewed here.
nbn Satellite Service Growth – 25 August 2016
Notes:
- The chart does not indicate the total number of Sky Muster installations as many installations will be ISS to Sky Muster … ie nil net gain.
- The satellite (Sky Muster) increases commenced in late April as Sky Muster installations kicked in.
- Not shown are the satellite losses ie ISS to wireless etc
- There is no premises covered data prior to 5th May 2016.
- ABG, NSS and telstra satellite customer connections are not shown.
*Please note, while all care has been taken in compiling BIRRR documents, we recommend that you check with NBN or your ISP regarding your own connection issues.
Better Internet for Rural, Regional & Remote Australia (BIRRR) 