Image courtesy of NBN Co.
The Communications Alliance has established a satellite services working group to influence State and Federal Government policy as the National Broadband Network (NBN) satellite plan is rolled out.
In addition to the Alliance, other companies who have joined include Optus Satellite, NBN Co, Telstra, Newsat, Intelsat, Thales, APN, Indigo Telecom, SES New Skies and Coutts Communications.
The group will focus on a range of activities including policy development on behalf of the satellite sector at the wholesale/ retail layers and input to State and Federal Government policy.
It also plans to liaise with NBN Co on operational issues relating to the satellite-based components of the NBN and look at the creation or revision of Communications Alliance codes, guidelines and standards that have implications for satellite-based services.
In addition, the group will monitor international standards work which could be relevant to the Australian satellite sector.
Communications Alliance chief executive, John Stanton, said in a statement that satellite services will become more important as the NBN moves from an interim satellite offering to a Ka-band based service for rural and remote Australia.
The group will collaborate with the Satellite Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which is responsible for Australia's international space co-ordination activities.
In February 2012, NBN Co partnered with commercial broadband satellite manufacturer Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) to build two next-generation Ka-band satellites, a move set to provide remote Australian communities with high-speed broadband.
As part of the near $620 million contract, SS/L will also supply the telemetry, tracking and command systems for NBN Co’s Long Term Satellite Service, an investment worth about $2 billion.
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