NBN trialling faster speeds for satellite connections

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 23 February 2023

NBN Co today announced that it will be trialling a new Sky Muster satellite NBN plan with speeds of up to 100Mbps and unlimited data. Up to 10,000 customers on Sky Muster Plus plans will be eligible to participate, with the trials kicking off immediately.

At present, the fastest satellite NBN plans have a 25Mbps speed cap, but can burst a little faster. Being able to burst to 100Mbps is a significant step up. Existing Sky Muster Plus plans are largely unmetered, but still have a data allowance for select activities, like video streaming between 4pm and midnight.

The move to unlimited data would put Sky Muster Plus plans in line with most other NBN plans. A fair use policy does still apply, however, and NBN Co says it may still cap speeds for certain kinds of traffic - such as large game downloads - during busy periods to prevent congestion.

Telcos participating in the trial will invite eligible customers. The trial will run until May, and if successful, may lead to the launch of a new Sky Muster Plus plan later in the year.

Looking further forward, NBN Co's planned upgrades to the fixed wireless network will allow approximately 120,000 satellite customers to switch technology types due to an expanded footprint. This will also free up extra capacity for customers still using satellite. These enhancements are expected to be in place by the end of 2024.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio