Australia plans to boost Internet via satellites

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Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) plans to launch two satellites towards the latter part of 2015 to boost the country’s Internet service, especially in rural areas.

Australia plans to boost Internet via satellites

Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) plans to launch two satellites towards the latter part of 2015 to boost the country’s Internet service, especially in rural areas.

The satellites are slated to be launched by Arianespace in the fourth quarter of this year.

Each weighing in at 6,300 kilograms, the satellites will be two of the largest commercial satellites ever launched, according to NBN.

Once in orbit, the satellites will travel at an estimated 28,000 km/h, circling the planet 14 times per day.

A recent report found that Australia is ranked 44th in the world for Internet speeds. NBN says the new Ka-band technology will bring 400,000 households in the Australian bush lands up to par with metropolitan service areas.

NBN’s Julia Dickinson said Arianespace was selected for its stellar track record of 63 successful launches in a row.

Dickinson said many rural areas in Australia are still using dial-up Internet and will now have access to 100 times faster download speeds.

“People in the outer regions of Australia should be getting Internet as good as anyone else. It will bridge the digital divide between city and country,” she said.

On the ground, NBN has completed work on 10 satellite ground stations in New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia.

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