Close

nbn® Sky Muster® satellite explained

Sky Muster® satellite service

The Sky Muster satellite service delivers the nbn network to homes and businesses in regional and remote Australia, via two state-of-the-art satellites. So, people across mainland Australia and Tasmania, and remote islands such as Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Lord Howe Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands can now enjoy nbn powered plans through Sky Muster satellite providers.

As well as the roof satellite dish installed on the home or business, Sky Muster satellite connections also require an nbn supplied modem to be installed at the point where the cable from the satellite dish enters the premises. This device requires power to operate and can only be installed by an nbn approved installer.

When you contact your phone and internet provider to connect to the nbn network, they should arrange for an nbn approved installer to call you and organise a visit to your premises to connect you.

What to expect on the day of your nbn Satellite installation

This video will show you how to prepare for installation day and make the most of your nbn Satellite connection. 
Getting connected in regional locations
Discover how we're helping remote communities make the switch.

nbn Sky Muster Plus Premium

nbn Sky Muster Plus Premium is our premier satellite service for home and small businesses wanting to connect to the nbn network.  

Downloads

nbn User Guide

nbn Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus satellite services
Download (PDF - 4 MB)

nbn Preparation Kit

nbn Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus satellite services
Download (PDF - 6 MB)

Fair Use Policies and how they affect your peak usage

The nbn Sky Muster satellite service Fair Use Policy is in place to help ensure fair access to the service – especially during peak usage times. This Fair Use Policy applies between nbn and the provider.

Your provider will likely have a separate Fair Use Policy which applies to your premises – as satellite capacity is a limited resource. Some providers may have less capacity, which may not be noticed during off-peak times. But during peak hours, when there is more traffic, congestion may occur if your provider does not have enough network capacity- this can lead to slower speeds and the occasional 'buffering'. 

Have questions?

Other nbn Sky Muster Plus wholesale Consumer Plans

Note: The below content is accurate as at 1 June 2023, but the types of traffic that count towards your monthly data allowance on the nbn Sky Muster Plus product are subject to change. We recommend you check this page (or nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus) regularly to ensure that you keep up to date with the latest changes. The examples of video streaming1 and VPN usage that count towards your monthly data allowance, between 4pm and 12am midnight, in the table below are examples only and do not comprehensively describe all types of video streaming1and VPN usage that count towards your monthly data allowance on nbn Sky Muster Plus Plans. For further details on which type of activity counts toward your monthly data allowance between 4pm and 12am midnight, please contact your preferred internet service provider.

For Sky Muster Plus plans that have a data usage allowance, only video streaming and VPN use between 4pm and 12 am midnight counts towards the monthly data quota, all other internet activity does not count. Any traffic may be shaped from time to time at nbn’s discretion if nbn considers it necessary to proactively or otherwise protect the network. Other exclusions and fair use conditions may apply.2

With these plans, simply select the monthly data allowance you require for video streaming1 and VPN traffic between 4pm and 12am midnight, with the help of your preferred internet service provider. 

Monthly data allowance is only required for video streaming1 and VPN traffic between 4pm and 12am midnight

From 25GB – 150GB

Check with your preferred internet service provider for the plans they offer

Data top-ups

If you exhaust your monthly data allowance during the month and want to purchase more, data top-ups may be available as an option.

Speak to your preferred internet service provider about data top-up options they may offer 

Wholesale speed

Plans are based on a wholesale 25/5 Mbps Access Rate (nbn commits to achieve a peak wholesale speed of 25/5 Mbps at least once per day and will investigate otherwise).  This plan may be able to burst& up to a wholesale download speed of 50Mbps2 from time to time where network conditions allow 2&3 

Examples of applications and how they relate to your monthly data allowance 

Examples of video streaming that count towards your monthly data allowance between 4pm and 12am midnight, include: Netflix, ABC iView, Stan, FOXTEL, You Tube, Tik Tok, Play On and embedded video on newspaper and magazine websites.

Examples of Virtual Private Network traffic that count towards your monthly data allowance between 4pm and 12am midnight include: accessing the internet through products like Nord VPN, Norton Secure VPN, Pure VPN and/ or VPNs proprietary to workplaces and companies. 

Examples of embedded streaming video content on select social media platforms, and video calling via communication and social media applications, that do not count toward the monthly data allowance include: 

  • Streaming embedded video content on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr and LinkedIn.
  • Video calling via Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, FaceTime, Google Duo, Snapchat, Instagram Live, Viber, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Line, Tango, MyVMR and GoToMeeting

Wholesale shaping rate 

(applies to video streaming1 and VPN between 4pm and 12am midnight once monthly data allowance is exhausted)

Download 512 kbps

Upload 256 kbps

Other usage that may be shaped from time to time

To proactively protect and ensure the fair access to the nbn broadband access network for all users, nbn may from time to time, at its discretion, shape the following activities to maximum wholesale upload and download speeds of 256kbps :  

  • streaming video between midnight and 4pm;
  • VPN between midnight and 4pm;
  • uploads and downloads via peer to peer; 
  • uploads and downloads to cloud storage platforms;
  • PC and smartphone operating system updates; 
  • software/application updates; 
  • gaming software updates; any other uncapped data traffic related to applications which nbn cannot identify;
  • Other activities that nbn considers may cause adverse network impacts may also be added to the above list to be shaped. 

Standard Installation

Installations are professionally carried out and not charged by nbn to internet service providers as long as they meet nbn’s criteria.4 Check with your preferred internet service provider whether they have any other fees.

Standard nbn Sky Muster Plus satellite equipment

Not charged by nbn to internet service providers. Standard satellite equipment is owned and maintained by nbn. Check with your preferred internet service provider whether they have any other required equipment or fees.

Sky Muster™ satellite installation requests may require in-home cabling and include multiple devices to be installed inside and outside of your premises. The nbn™ equipment to be installed may include, a satellite dish (outside), an nbn™ modem (inside), a power pack (inside), and a wall outlet (inside). Your phone or internet provider will supply a gateway (router/modem) and the Ethernet cable to connect the devices as required.
Depending on the internal or external locations, the devices installed may differ to the ones shown in the diagram.
Sky Muster satellite diagram

The satellite dish may alternatively be mounted on your roof or gutter.

Satellite broadband is the delivery of broadband data using satellite signals. A small antenna or dish is installed on the roof (or other nbn-approved location) of a home or business to transmit and receive data from a satellite orbiting the earth. The satellite then transmits the data back to a network of satellite ground stations (much larger satellite dishes) and these connect to the internet via your preferred internet service provider.

nbn™ Sky Muster™ plans have two wholesale speeds tiers available. Speeds that you actually experience will fluctuate but wholesale speeds will peak at 12/1Mbps or 25/5 Mbps depending on the tier chosen.

nbn provides wholesale services to phone and internet providers. Note that your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ broadband access network, depends on the nbn™ access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like your equipment quality, software, chosen broadband plan, signal reception or how your provider designs its network). Wholesale speeds for an nbn™ Sky Muster™ plan may be reduced if the metered data allowance is exceeded. Satellite end users may also experience latency.

These considerations may help if you’re experiencing performance or speed issues on your Sky Muster™ satellite service:

• Networking equipment: Check the quality of your networking equipment, for example, a better router/modem could improve your experience.

• Wi-Fi signal strength: Wi-Fi modems can vary in signal strength, so it’s best to check with your provider if the modem that they’ve supplied meets your performance expectations.

• Where you position your Wi-Fi modem: Other electronics can impact your Wi-Fi signal – mobile phones, microwaves and TVs rely on radio signals. Having your router placed as far away from these devices as possible can help.

• The number of devices online at the same time: If you regularly have many users and devices actively online at the same time, and stream videos on a regular basis, ask your provider about whether a plan based on a higher wholesale speed tier is available.

• Network congestion: How your provider configures their network and manages traffic (particularly during peak periods when more people are online) can have an effect on your internet experience – particularly during peak usage times. Ask your provider how they approach their congestion during peak times to help you to understand what’s right for you.

If you’re still experiencing issues with your nbn™ service, you’ll need to chat with your provider for further assistance.

Read more on optimising your experience at home.

Your VPN is a private network that accesses the internet over a secure connection. Using a VPN can cause limitations on your device when using the internet and can cause your connection to slow down. This experience may be prominent over nbn™ Sky Muster™ satellite services due to latency (delayed transmission) which is inherent to satellite technology due to the distance that data needs to travel to the Satellite and back (a 72,000km round trip in the case of nbn™ Sky Muster satellites).

Note that internet traffic via VPN is metered* on plans via the nbn™ Sky Muster™ or nbn™ Sky Muster™ Plus satellite services.

You may consider these options to help optimise your connectivity via a VPN:

  • Firstly, check and compare your service’s speed with and without a VPN over the nbn™ network. +If you notice a poor result without being connected to the VPN, contact your phone and internet provider for assistance. 
  • Use a VPN only when required. Note that websites beginning with https:// indicate secure browsing. Common email platforms  such as Microsoft Outlook and Gmail use Secure Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and cloud-based services (like Office 365 applications and Google Suite applications (Google Docs, sheets, Drive etc) are inherently secure).
  • Avoid using a VPN for video conferencing where possible. Platforms like MS Teams and Google Meet are typically secure.
  • Connect to your nbn™ connection box with an ethernet cable rather than via Wi-Fi when using VPN.

The existing copper lines and services at your premises will not be altered or changed by an nbn™ Sky Muster™ satellite installation.

In Sky Muster™ satellite areas, premises will have the choice to keep their existing phone service over the copper network active, or switch over to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service on the nbn™ access network through a preferred phone and internet provider – connecting your new phone via the nbn™ supplied equipment. Your provider can assist with your phone and internet services.

Read more about the services that may be affected.

A premises’ eligibility for different service technologies (i.e. Fixed Wireless, Sky Muster™ satellite or Fixed Line) is subject to which access technology is available at your premises. It’s important to note that if a premises is not eligible to receive a Fixed Wireless or Fixed Line service, it may only be eligible for a Sky Muster™ satellite service.
The nbn™ Sky Muster™ Fair Use Policy forms part of the agreement between nbn and internet service providers and is designed to help ensure fair access to the nbn™ Sky Muster™ satellite network – especially during peak usage times. Internet services providers may have their own fair use conditions that apply to your retail contract. For more information, contact your internet service provider.

Register for nbn updates

Sign up for news from nbn including:

  • Updates about the nbn® network at your location
  • New products and features
  • Tips to help you make more of your internet experience


Sorry, we can't find your address. Please drag the pin or enter another address.

Privacy Collection Notice

nbn is collecting your personal information to keep you informed about news and updates from nbn. You can choose to unsubscribe at any time. nbn may link your personal information to cookies and tracking pixels for improving website performance and user experience. You can access our cookie notice for more information. nbn uses service providers who may be located outside of Australia to carry out our work. nbn’s Privacy Policy sets out how we handle your personal information, how you can access or correct your personal information, or make a complaint about nbn’s handling of your personal information and how we will deal with your complaint.

Although most existing services will be replaced by the nbn access network, there are some services that should not be impacted. These include those services provided over non-nbn fibre networks, some services in some apartment complexes, and some business and Special Services. nbn strongly recommends you contact your current phone and internet provider as soon as possible to find out if your services are impacted. You can also find out more at nbn.com.au/switchoff.
Important notes:
*
Exclusions and fair use conditions apply. If you’re accessing your connection via a Virtual Private Network (VPN) between 4pm and 12am midnight, all activities will count towards your monthly data allowance even those specified above as ‘uncapped data activities’. For more information on which internet activities are uncapped, which traffic may be shaped to proactively protect the nbn access and ensure fair access to the network for all users, and exclusions, visit nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus or speak to your internet service provider. For details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider.
^

Note that, to proactively protect and ensure the fair access to the nbn access network for all users, nbn may from time to time, at its discretion, shape the following uncapped data activities to maximum wholesale upload and download speeds of 256kbps:  

  • uploads and downloads via peer to peer; 
  • uploads and downloads to cloud storage platforms; 
  • PC and smartphone operating system updates; 
  • software/application updates; 
  • gaming software updates; 
  • any other uncapped data related to applications which nbn cannot identify.

Other uncapped data activity that nbn considers may cause adverse network impacts may also be added to the above list to be shaped, including streaming video and VPN outside of 4pm and 12am midnight.

Most video streaming, between 4pm – 12am midnight, counts towards your monthly data allowance, but embedded streaming video content on certain social media platforms, including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr and LinkedIn, is uncapped.