What Is NBN Satellite?
NBN Satellite uses the Sky Muster satellite constellation to deliver broadband internet to remote and very rural parts of Australia. It is the NBN technology of last resort — used in areas where running cables or installing wireless towers is not economically feasible.
NBN Co operates two Sky Muster satellites (launched in 2015 and 2017) in geostationary orbit approximately 36,000 kilometres above Australia. A third satellite, Sky Muster III, is planned to further boost capacity and speeds.
How Satellite Works
A technician installs a satellite dish on your roof or a nearby structure, pointed at the Sky Muster satellite. The dish both sends and receives data via radio signals to the satellite, which relays the data to NBN ground stations connected to the internet backbone.
Because the signal must travel approximately 36,000 km up to the satellite and 36,000 km back down (and the same in reverse), satellite connections experience significant latency (delay) — typically 600+ milliseconds round-trip. This is an inherent limitation of geostationary satellite technology.
Typical Speed Range
12–25 Mbps download
Sky Muster can deliver speeds up to 25 Mbps download on the best plans, though real-world performance varies based on weather conditions, peak-hour congestion, and data allowances. Most satellite plans include both peak and off-peak data quotas.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Available anywhere in Australia — the only NBN option for truly remote areas
- No ground infrastructure needed (other than the dish)
- Adequate for basic browsing, email, and standard-definition streaming
- Sky Muster Plus plans offer unmetered streaming and software updates
Cons:
- High latency (600ms+) makes video calls, gaming, and real-time applications difficult
- Speeds are lower than all other NBN technologies
- Data caps on most plans (though Sky Muster Plus has improved this)
- Weather can affect signal quality (heavy rain, storms)
- Professional dish installation required
- Not suitable for heavy internet usage or multiple simultaneous users
Top Suburbs with Satellite
Only 5 suburbs with 500+ premises have Satellite as their dominant NBN technology — reflecting how satellite is designed for dispersed, remote populations rather than concentrated suburbs.
| # | Suburb | State | Premises | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk Island | OT | 1,020 | 2.5 | D |
| 2 | Christmas Island | OT | 781 | 2.5 | D |
| 3 | Yarrabah | QLD | 657 | 2.5 | D |
| 4 | Seaspray | VIC | 535 | 2.5 | D |
| 5 | Palm Island | QLD | 504 | 2.5 | D |
Satellite suburbs consistently score 2.5 out of 10 with D grades, reflecting the inherent limitations of satellite broadband — high latency, lower speeds, and data restrictions. These communities include Australia’s external territories (Norfolk Island, Christmas Island) and remote indigenous communities. For these areas, satellite remains the only viable broadband option until alternative technologies become available.