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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Mark Gregory

Australia’s ageing NBN satellites leave rural internet users struggling to connect

A hand holds a mobile device connected to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite broadband service (against the backdrop of a shot of planet Earth)
The number of NBN Sky Muster customers fell over the past six months even as Elon Musk’s Starlink claims it has 120,000 Australian customers. Photograph: NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

Australia’s Sky Muster satellites are getting old, leaving about 95,069 regional, rural and remote home and business customers who get their internet via the service wondering what comes next.

NBN Co’s satellites were launched in 2015 and 2016 with a design life of 15 or more years, meaning the federal government will have to start the replacement program before the next federal election.

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