If you’ve seen the video of our visit to the Star of Hope cattle station, featuring remote student Zarah, then you’ll be in no doubt about the importance of our Sky Muster™ satellite service.

The critical role it plays in connecting those in remote and rural locations to the rest of the nation –
and world – can’t be overlooked and, in many cases, overstated.

Like anything, though, we know there can always be room for improvement. To listen to those at the very heart of an issue or, in this case, a product.

And since Sky Muster™ launched back in 2016, we’ve been doing just that: listening to you.

Listening to our residential and small business customers

Today, I’m delighted to share the results of the feedback and discussions that have been taking place, and the hard work happening behind the scenes: the launch of Sky Muster™ Plus.

Designed to help bring broadband peace of mind to customers using our satellite service, Sky Muster™ Plus is a new wholesale product that will allow remote homes and small businesses to access unmetered data for essential online activities.*

These plans – which eligible customers can now order from participating retail providers – include unmetered data for essentials including web browsing (static images and text only), and select email platforms and PC and smartphone operating system updates.*^

In other words, the kinds of online tasks that can be taken for granted by those living in our towns and cities.

The pluses of Sky Muster™ Plus

In simple terms, Sky Muster™ Plus plans mean that customers can perform essential internet tasks that will not count towards the plan’s monthly data allowance.

It’s important to note that Sky Muster™ Plus isn’t replacing Sky Muster™ satellite services.

Instead, it’s offering a new wholesale product based on the 25/5Mbps wholesale speed tier, which customers can take advantage of from today by speaking with a participating internet provider.†

In most cases, no additional nbn™ equipment or further installation is needed but you will need to proactively request to switch. 

Our commitment to rural and remote Australia

Sky Muster™ Plus is another tangible step in our ongoing commitment to regional and rural Australia.

The launch of this latest wholesale product is the second significant change for the Sky Muster™ satellite service.

The first came in 2017 when we increased the service’s average wholesale data allowances by 50 per cent and doubled the maximum permissible plans to bring customers on the Sky Muster™ satellite service. (This product will continue to be available alongside Sky Muster™ Plus.)

Like our existing Sky Muster™ services, Sky Muster™ Plus is subsidised to help customers in some of Australia’s most remote homes and small businesses.

Enriching the digital lives of remote and rural Australia remains a top priority here at NBN Co. That’s why it was so encouraging that those who made the switch to Sky Muster™ Plus during our limited volume launch, welcomed the new product’s benefits with open arms.

A keen eye for Sky Muster™ Plus opportunities

One such customer is Jess Edwards.

A photographer from Rockhampton, Edwards has been running her small business for five years – while also juggling a young family and cattle property.

Understandably, with all these responsibilities, time is precious to Edwards.

I’m pleased to say, Edwards reports that Sky Muster™ Plus is helping her to be more efficient, with greater productivity meaning more time for her family and farm duties.

You can learn more about Edwards’ experience with Sky Muster™ Plus here: 

Among my favourite benefits of those shared by Edwards is how the new wholesale plan is affording her greater peace of mind, and how she can still send photos to clients via email and social media, even if her family has used up the monthly data allowance.*

It’s wonderful to hear how that level of connectivity is playing a role in Edwards’ business without impacting her family’s own connectivity enjoyment.

My ultimate hope is this greater connectivity will help regional and rural Australians to thrive. We expect to see more families connecting with loved ones more often. And we love hearing about new small businesses and those expanding their reach each day.

Those residential and small business customers in rural and remote areas eager to experience the benefits of Sky Muster™ Plus should speak with a participating phone and internet provider.

We’re confident that those who make the switch will enjoy both the personal and professional benefits that Sky Muster™ Plus can bring.

nbn is very happy with Jess’s experience with the nbn™ broadband access network. Of course, end user experiences may vary. An end user’s experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ broadband access network, depends on the configuration over which services are delivered to their premises, whether they are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like their equipment quality, software and signal reception). Satellite end users may also experience latency.

* Exclusions and fair use conditions apply. If you’re accessing your connection via a Virtual Private Network (VPN), or applications that do not use HTTP/HTTPS protocols, all activities will be metered, even those specified above as ‘unmetered activities’. For more information on which internet activities are unmetered and exclusions visit www.nbn.com.au/skymuster-plus or speak to your internet service provider. For details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider. Note the types of data that is unmetered is constantly subject to change, please refer to nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus for the most up-to-date information.

^ Excludes application, gaming console and non-system software updates. From 7pm – 11pm, PC and smartphone operating system software updates may be shaped at nbn’s discretion to wholesale speeds of 256kbps.

† Sky Muster™ Plus customers will from time-to-time experience wholesale speed bursts above 25/5Mbps, subject to available network capacity, however this is not guaranteed. Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ broadband access network, depends on the nbn™ access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to their premises, whether they are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like their equipment quality, software, or signal reception). Wholesale speeds may be reduced if metered allowance is exceeded (refer to nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus). Satellite end users may also experience latency.