Aussie Government gears up for nbn satellite launch

The Australian Government has announced an imminent launch of two nbn satellites, which will provide high-speed broadband to regional and remote areas of Australia.

The first new nbn satellites will launch from French Guiana on October 1 2015.

Malcolm Turnbull, Minister of Communications, says the launch date is a huge step forward for those living in regional and remote Australia, with more than 200,000 homes and businesses set to be covered.

"The nbn long term satellite service will be a game changer for those living in the bush and will help bridge the digital divide currently experienced by many," he says.

The second satellite will be launched later next year to ensure there is sufficient capacity to meet the needs of users in regional and remote areas.

These next-generation ka-band satellites will deliver quality performance and peak speeds of up to 25 megabits per second regardless of where people live, says Turnbull.

This means that Australians living in rural and regional areas will have access to a satellite service much better than they currently experience, he says.

The Government remains committed to rolling out the national broadband network to all Australians by 2020, Turnbull says.