NBN Co infrastructure upgrades will bring low Earth orbit satellite broadband to remote regions.
NBN Co has struck a deal with Amazon’s Project Kuiper to roll out low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband to more than 300,000 premises across regional, rural and remote Australia from mid‑2026.
The agreement will see NBN Co transition its wholesale residential-grade satellite service from the current Sky Muster geostationary network to Kuiper’s high-bandwidth, low-latency LEO constellation.
The shift is expected to deliver significant improvements in speed, reliability and responsiveness for customers in NBN’s existing satellite footprint.
Project Kuiper’s system will comprise over 3,200 interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit, linked via high-speed optical inter-satellite links to a global network of ground stations and fibre backhaul.
The first operational Kuiper satellites launched in April 2025, with 78 already in orbit following three launches in under three months. Amazon plans to ramp up production and launches ahead of its Australian service debut.
Consultation with retail service providers (RSPs), regional communities and stakeholders will begin shortly to determine wholesale speed tiers, pricing and upgrade pathways.
NBN Co says it will consider providing eligible existing satellite customers with equipment, professional installation and assurance at no cost via participating RSPs.
Ellie Sweeney, NBN Co CEO, said: “LEO satellite broadband, supplied by NBN Co and powered by Amazon’s Project Kuiper, will be a major leap forward for customers in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia… Transitioning from two geostationary satellites to a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites will help to ensure the nbn network is future-ready.”
The two Sky Muster satellites, launched in 2015 and 2016, will remain in operation until at least 2032, ensuring continuity during the migration to LEO services. NBN Co is reviewing future options for these assets once the transition is complete.
Rajeev Badyal, Vice President, Technology at Project Kuiper, said: “We’ve designed Project Kuiper to be the most advanced satellite system ever built… We’re proud to be working with nbn to bring Kuiper to even more customers and communities across Australia.”
Proponents say the upgrade will expand regional digital access for work, education, telehealth and entertainment, while aligning with broader NBN investments in fibre and 5G fixed wireless upgrades.
Project Kuiper is named after Gerard Kuiper, a Dutch-American astronomer often regarded as the father of modern planetary science.
He is best known for his work on the outer solar system and for predicting the existence of a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune, later confirmed and named the Kuiper Belt in his honour.
