Satellite Internet in Australia: NBN Struggles Against Starlink
A new report from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) paints a grim picture of NBN’s satellite internet service, revealing performance so slow it struggles to reliably handle even basic online activities like video streaming or online gaming.[[1](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/emanuel-rojas-otero_the-power-of-on-page-seo-on-academic-websites-activity-7185709383564062720-6Xiu)] The report highlighted a staggering average latency of 664.9 milliseconds for NBN’s geostationary service, compared to a mere 29.8 milliseconds for its LEO (Low Earth Orbit) rival, Starlink. “While the latency is stable during busy hour congestion, its high duration is likely to hinder activities that require real-time responsiveness,” the Measuring Broadband Australia programme concluded in its report about Sky Muster’s service. “Users relying on Sky Muster for such applications may experience delays, but the service remains predictable in its performance.” This latest report marks the first time the ACCC has included satellite providers in its quarterly broadband performance analysis, making it one of the most comprehensive evaluations of satellite internet performance to date. Starlink’s superiority wasn’t limited to latency. The service also considerably outpaced NBN in download and upload speeds. Starlink boasted peak speeds of 470 Mbps for downloads and 74 Mbps for uploads, while NBN lagged behind with 111 Mbps and 22 Mbps, respectively. This difference in performance can be attributed to the distinct orbital positions of LEO and geostationary satellites. LEO satellites, like those used by Starlink, orbit much closer to Earth, resulting in faster signal transmission. However, their closer proximity to Earth also means LEO constellations cover smaller areas, necessitating larger, interconnected networks to provide comprehensive coverage. Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, enjoys a distinct advantage in this regard. Their ownership of reusable rockets allows them to launch thousands of satellites without relying on external launch providers, enabling them to rapidly expand their global coverage. It’s estimated that there are currently over 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. The ACCC report attributed NBN Sky Muster’s high latency to the vast distance signals must travel to and from its geostationary orbit, situated approximately 35,786 kilometers above the Earth’s equator. “This journey includes an uplink from the user’s device to the satellite, a relay to a ground station, and a return trip,” the report explained. The data for the ACCC’s latest Measuring Broadband Australia program was collected between september 1 and September 30, 2024, from 298 separate connections. This report comes on the heels of an proclamation by Space Connect in October that Optus would join Telstra in offering customary Starlink installations to business customers. This collaboration precedes Optus’s more aspiring long-term plan to offer a “straight-to-mobile” Starlink service for users in remote regions. This unique agreement will eliminate the need for users to purchase specialized hardware, allowing them to access Starlink directly on compatible mobile devices. Currently, Optus’s traditional service is inaccessible across 60% of Australia’s landmass. This new partnership promises to dramatically expand connectivity, bringing service to nearly 100% of the country.## Australia’s Internet Divide: Can Sky Muster compete with Starlink?
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to Archyde Live. Today we’re discussing a new report from the ACCC that shines a spotlight on the ongoing struggles of NBN’s satellite internet service, Sky Muster. Joining us to dissect these findings is [**Guest Name**], an expert in telecommunications and digital infrastructure. [**Guest Name**],thanks for being with us.
**Guest:** Thanks for having me.
**Interviewer:** The report paints a rather bleak picture for Sky Muster, highlighting its significantly slower speeds compared to competitors like Starlink.Can you elaborate on these findings?
**guest:** Absolutely.The ACCC report reveals a stark disparity in latency between Sky Muster and Starlink. While both services utilize satellites, the key difference lies in their orbit. Sky Muster relies on geostationary satellites,positioned far above Earth,leading to a staggering average latency of 664.9 milliseconds. This means a noticeable delay in data transmission. In contrast,Starlink employs Low Earth Orbit satellites,resulting in a significantly lower latency of 29.8 milliseconds, closer to the speeds experienced with terrestrial broadband.
**Interviewer:** For our viewers who may not be familiar with technical jargon, what does this difference in latency practically meen for everyday internet use?
**Guest:** It directly impacts the user experience. Think about streaming a movie or engaging in online gaming. High latency creates lag and buffering, making these activities frustrating and unreliable. The ACCC report acknowledges that Sky Muster’s latency is consistent, meaning it’s predictable, but simply too high for demanding online activities.
**Interviewer:** So, how does this impact Australians who rely on satellite internet, especially those in remote areas?
**Guest:** It widens the digital divide.Peopel living in rural and remote areas, who often depend on satellite internet, are faced with a service that struggles to meet the demands of modern online life.This can limit access to education, employment opportunities, telehealth services, and even basic communication.
**Interviewer:** Is ther any hope for advancement with Sky Muster?
**Guest:** That’s a complex question. There are ongoing efforts to upgrade the Sky Muster network, but it’s a challenging endeavour.Satellite technology has limitations,and achieving speeds comparable to fibre optic or even Starlink remains a significant hurdle.
**Interviewer:** What does the rise of Starlink mean for the future of satellite internet in Australia, and for NBN’s role in bridging the digital divide?
**Guest:** Starlink’s entry disrupts the status quo and forces NBN to adapt. It highlights the potential of LEO satellite technology and puts pressure on NBN to improve its offerings. Whether NBN can keep pace and effectively compete with Starlink in the long run remains to be seen. Ultimately, the consumers in remote areas will be the ones who benefit from this increased competition, hopefully leading to faster, more reliable internet access.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, [**Guest Name**], for providing your insights on this crucial issue. This certainly highlights a pressing need for ongoing improvements in Australia’s digital infrastructure.
**Guest:** Thank you for having me.
## Australia’s Internet Divide: Can Sky Muster compete with Starlink?
**Interviewer:**
Welcome back to Archyde Live. Today we’re discussing a new report from the ACCC that shines a spotlight on the ongoing struggles of NBN’s satellite internet service, Sky Muster. joining us to dissect these findings is [**Guest Name**], an expert in telecommunications and digital infrastructure. [**Guest Name**], thanks for being with us.
**Guest:**
Thanks for having me.
**Interviewer:**
The report paints a rather bleak picture for Sky Muster, highlighting its substantially slower speeds compared to competitors like Starlink. Can you elaborate on these findings?
**Guest:**
Absolutely. The ACCC report reveals some stark realities for Sky Muster. It found an average latency of 664.9 milliseconds compared to a mere 29.8 milliseconds for Starlink. This massive difference means Sky Muster users will experience critically important delays in activities like video streaming or online gaming, making those activities frustrating, if not impossible. while the report mentions the latency on Sky Muster is consistent, its high duration is still a major drawback.
**Interviewer:**
the report also mentions a significant difference in download and upload speeds. can you delve deeper into that?
**Guest:**
Certainly. Starlink boasts peak download speeds of 470 Mbps and upload speeds of 74 mbps. In contrast, NBN’s Sky Muster lags behind considerably with only 111 Mbps for downloads and a meager 22 Mbps for uploads. This means downloading large files, participating in video conferences, or even uploading content will be significantly slower on Sky Muster.
The report attributes these substantial differences to the differing orbital positions of the satellites. Starlink operates a network of LEO satellites orbiting much closer to Earth, which results in faster signal transmission. While their closer proximity allows for faster speeds, it also means they cover smaller areas, requiring a larger network to provide comprehensive coverage.
**Interviewer:**
So how does Starlink’s approach compare to Sky Muster’s reliance on geostationary satellites?
**Guest:**
Starlink’s advantage lies in its ownership of reusable rockets. this allows them to rapidly launch thousands of LEO satellites without relying on external launch providers.Currently,they have over 6,000 satellites in orbit and are constantly expanding their constellation.
On the other hand,Sky Muster relies on geostationary satellites located approximately 35,786 kilometers above the Earth’s equator.Signals travelling to and from these satellites have a much longer distance to cover, leading to the higher latency we discussed earlier.
**Interviewer:**
Looking forward, how do you see this competition unfolding and what impact will it have on rural Australians who rely on satellite internet?
**Guest:**
This competition is crucial for consumers, especially in remote areas. Starlink is already forcing NBN to innovate and improve its offering. We’ve recently seen announcements from Optus partnering with Starlink
to offer services to business customers, and their plans to eventually offer a ‘straight-to-mobile’ Starlink service for users in remote regions.
while these developments are promising, it’s crucial that the government and NBN continue to invest in improving satellite internet infrastructure to ensure all Australians have access to reliable, high-speed internet.
