An additional 9000 homes and businesses in the bush will have access to satellite broadband under a new scheme announced by NBN Co.
The company says it has struck an agreement with satellite-operator IP Star to provide extra satellite space for internet service providers.
NBN Co will subsidise the installation of satellite dishes and linked equipment, but will have no direct involvement thereafter.
It comes as the company struggles to accommodate massive demand for satellite broadband from the three per cent of premises not passed by fixed-line or wireless connections.
Two permanent NBN Co satellites are set to launch late next year. In the meantime the company has been forced to adopt stopgap measures.
An interim satellite service was forced to stop taking new customers last year after 45,000 subscriptions began to slow internet speeds to a crawl.
"Bringing broadband to the most remote communities across Australia is one of NBN Cos highest priorities," NBN Co chief customers officer John Simon said in a statement on Tuesday.
"This initiative is essential to providing a reliable service to families and businesses that cannot access a commercial broadband service today."
Under the agreement, IP Star must provide a minimum download performance equivalent to 2.6 megabits-per-second for 20.4 hours per day.
Eligibility for the scheme is restricted to customers who cannot access any other commercial broadband service and have not previously connected to a subsidised satellite service.
* Applications are now open at nbnco.com.au and 1800 687 626
Share
