NBN Co Interim Satellite Service

NBN Co has introduced an Interim Satellite Service for premises across mainland Australia and Tasmania that have previously had limited access to broadband.

This service is designed to provide a transition from the Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) program previously managed by the Department of Broadband Communications and Digital Economy.

People in homes, small businesses, Indigenous communities, not-for-profit organisations and educational, health and local government facilities in some of the most remote areas of Australia will be among the first users of a new high-speed satellite service provided over the National Broadband Network.

NBN Co's Interim Satellite Service was launched 1^st July 2011 and has been available to eligible individuals, small businesses, not for profit organisations and Indigenous communities on the mainland and across Tasmania, with the first priority being given to those eligible customers who currently have no alternate access to commercial broadband services. From 1st July 2012, eligible educational, health and local government facilities were also able to access the service.

Eligible end users will need to order broadband services from a participating retail service provider. A list of registered retail service providers offering services is now available.

There are many retailers already offering broadband services around Australia. In the first instance, it is suggested that you contact a service provider in your area to find out what type of broadband is available to your premises.

We have developed the NBN Co Broadband Services Locator tool to give you an indication of the type of services you can purchase in your area through retail service providers and to determine whether you can receive a metro comparable broadband service. The Broadband Service Locator will also indicate whether your location is eligible for an NBN Co Interim Satellite Service. The Broadband Service Locator tool also provides a service registration process for eligible customers.

Premises that are in remote areas that do not have access to metro-comparable broadband services may be eligible to receive NBN Co's Interim Satellite Service.

To find out if your premises is eligible for this interim satellite service, use the Broadband Services Locator tool to give you an indication of the type of service you can purchase.

If you are an educational, health or local government facility seeking to order a service, you, or your chosen retail service provider, can contact the NBN Co Contact Centre on 1800 OUR NBN (1800 687 626) weekdays between 8:00am and 7:00pm, or on weekends between 9:00am and 5:00pm (AEST) to determine your eligibility.

If you are eligible for an NBN Co Interim Satellite Service, you will be assigned a priority one or priority two category status.

Priority one eligible customers are those who have never had an ABG service and according to the Broadband Services Locator (BSL), do not have access to a metro-comparable broadband service,

Priority two eligible customers, according to the Broadband Services Locator (BSL), do not have access to a metro-comparable broadband service, but have a working ABG service that was connected more than three years ago or have lost their ABG service through no fault of their own.

Full eligibility rules are outlined in the Eligibility Criteria document.

Broadband services that are comparable to metro services will have the following features:

• Access to the internet at a peak data speed of at least 512/128 kbps and 3GB per month usage allowance (with no restrictions within these limits on downloads or uploads or usage time);
• Costing the consumer, over three years of no more than $2500 including equipment, installation, connection, account establishment, travel costs and ongoing provision of the service; and
• The retailer offering the broadband service can install the service within a reasonable period of time.

Under the interim satellite service, the satellite equipment and standard installation will be provided by NBN Co, via retail service providers.

NBN Co is an open-access wholesale provider; this means you do not buy interim satellite services directly from us. Instead, you buy from registered retail service providers. We provide the network upon which these companies are able to deliver services to you.

As an open-access wholesaler, NBN Co cannot offer retail pricing advice.

For details on costs, contact your preferred retail service provider. Click here for a list of retail service providers.

Please call NBN Co Contact Centre on 1800 OUR NBN (1800 687 626) weekdays between 8:00am and 7:00pm, or on weekends between 9:00am and 5:00pm (AEST).

To answer questions regarding the NBN Co Interim Satellite Service, we have included a list of some frequently asked questions in the downloads section.

For reference the full Eligibility Criteria rules are outlined here.