Thursday's successful launch of the NBN Co's Sky Muster Satellite means high speed internet access for 200,000 Australians living in remote and regional areas is a significant step closer!
Rockets and satellites are risky business - a launch failure (i.e. an explosion) would be an expensive and major setback for the NBN (despite a $50 million insurance policy price tag). Satellites take years to build; launch windows are expensive and rare. Fortunately, it was a text book launch and all systems are GO!
Fast, but fast enough?
The massive $500 million, 6-tonne satellite promises speeds of up to 25MBps to users across the country who can't access other forms of broadband. There is some debate as to whether those speeds will actually be achieved, especially in peak usage periods. I have lived in regional Australia and welcome any improvement on the diabolically slow speeds of the current satellite services, which are often less than a dial up connection.
The good news is that the price point for services will be the same as what city folks pay for their broadband: about $70 a month.
There are still some risks:
- The satellite has another ten days to reach its final orbit at 36,000km above the earth.
- Several months of testing required
- Commerical services can only be offered in April 2016
- A twin satellite is scheduled for launch next year, increasing capacity to 400,000 users.
e-Learning for Everyone
Rumble in the Amazon Jungle
How does your registered training organisation plan to use the new Sky Muster Satellite? Comment below!
Image Source: NBN Co
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