Optus launches national 6Mbps satellite
Optus has announced that it will launch an ADSL-comparable satellite service within two weeks, which will provide speeds up to 6Mbps download and 1Mpbs upload to remote businesses from around $200.
The telco confirmed a report from this morning's CommsDay newsletter about the Optus Premium Satellite (OPS) service, which will provide national satellite coverage and offer up to 30GB plans targeting large business such as the mining sector.
Optus said in a statement that the service offers speeds six times faster than those available under the Federal Government's Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG).
"OPS will initially be aimed at small businesses and enterprise customers, particularly in the mining and construction sectors, where work sites can be quite remote and companies are looking to provide remote workers with better internet access," the statement said.
CommsDay reported that the Ku-band satellite service will be offered using the Gilat SkyEdge II platform among other technologies, and noted it will also use HTTP acceleration.
The telco will also offer products compliant with the Australian Broadband Guarantee.
NBN Co chief, Mike Quigley, also had a satellite announcement to make this week. He said yesterday that NBN Co will deploy an interim satellite service to provide faster broadband to under-served areas prior to the completion of the National Broadband Network (NBN).
"We have submitted proposals to the government that they have considered and accepted. You will see a range of tenders and proposals from us," Quigley said at an Australian Computer Services conference yesterday.
"Plans are absolutely in train."
The NBN will provide spot beam connectivity with speeds up to 12Mbps to areas not served by fibre or other wireless technology. The ABG scheme offers subsidies for satellite internet access for speeds between 256Kbps to 1Mbps.
Telco analyst, Paul Budde, said Optus is well positioned to provide interim satellite services.
"The reality is there is not a lot of room for competition in the satellite space," Budde said.
"Unless [Optus] comes up with a ridiculously high price, it makes sense [to use the service]. This interim service will be enormously welcomed."