NBN Co calls for further satellite providers

The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) has revealed the names of two retail service providers (RSPs) and is seeking five more that would provide services to remote and regional Australia via the company's Interim Satellite Service.

Since the announcement of the $300 million service at the beginning of this month, Harbour IT and SkyMesh have been trialling services on the Interim Satellite Service for regional and remote customers. The service is designed to replace the Australian Broadband Guarantee program for people without access to decent internet services. NBN Co said that from now until July, it aims to test the new Interim Satellite Service with up to 200 existing Australian Broadband Guarantee customers.

Between July and October, up to seven RSPs would be brought on to provide services to up to 300 customers and from November a full 20 RSPs would be able to service up to 1000 customers over the Interim Satellite Service.

The Interim Satellite Service is designed to ease the transition for the 3 per cent of regional and rural customers who are outside the fibre and wireless footprints of the NBN, and would receive broadband services by satellite.

Customers are set to receive a service with a maximum 6Mbps downlink and 1Mbps uplink speeds. Customers who wish to take up the service must first check their eligibility with NBN Co by either visiting the company's website or by calling a toll-free number (1800 881 816). Typically customers who can't get download speeds of greater than 512 kilobits per second would be eligible to apply.