Australia's Internet Network Partners with Amazon Satellite Service

• NBN partners with Amazon’s Project Kuiper to provide internet to 300,000 remote Australian homes.
• Amazon’s 78 satellites will replace NBN’s two satellites, with plans for over 3,200 by 2032.
• Starlink, with 8,000 satellites and 250,000 Australian customers, was overlooked after NBN’s procurement process.

Australia’s government-owned National Broadband Network (NBN) Co has signed a deal with Amazon’s Project Kuiper to provide high-speed internet to approximately 300,000 homes and businesses beyond the reach of its terrestrial network. The agreement will see Amazon’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites replace two NBN satellites set for decommissioning in 2032.

Project Kuiper, Amazon’s satellite internet initiative, currently operates 78 satellites, with plans to expand to over 3,200. These satellites use optical links to connect with each other and ground-based antennas. NBN’s decision followed a rigorous procurement process, though specific reasons for choosing Amazon over competitors like Starlink were not detailed.

The Starlink, belonging to SpaceX of Elon Musk, is the largest LEO satellite company in the world, consisting of 8,000 satellites and has more than 250,000 customers in Australia. The Australian government and major telecoms in Australia are among the many that use the services of Starlink, such as the Australian Electoral Commission. Although it has established itself, Starlink lost this tender.

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“It is true that Amazon Kuiper has not launched services yet in Australia or globally, but they are reportedly pumping in about $15 billion into that programme,” said Gavin Williams, NBN’s Chief Development Officer for Regional and Remote Services. “We have every confidence that we’ve got a partner in Kuiper that will do what they say they’re going to do,” he added.

When asked if Musk’s ownership of Starlink influenced the decision, Williams noted that NBN, as critical infrastructure, has regulatory and legal obligations. “Technical, operational, and commercial imperatives that fall into that consideration were contemplated and ventilated through the procurement process,” he said.