NBN satellite plans

What is satellite NBN?

Satellite NBN does exactly what it says on the tin. It sends internet signals to and from satellites in space, instead of relying on cables like fibre or copper.

It offers those living in some regional and remote parts of the country a more reliable way to get online. These areas don't have access to the NBN's high-speed fixed-line connections, and mobile broadband is often unreliable.

The caveat is that your internet connection may be affected by bad weather conditions, such as heavy rain or storms. Speeds are also generally slower than fibre or fixed wireless NBN.

What is Sky Muster?

Sky Muster is the name of the NBN's satellite broadband service. It beams internet from two purpose-built satellites in orbit down to homes and businesses that can't access fixed-line or fixed wireless NBN.

If you live in the outback, on an island, or anywhere that's a bit off the beaten track, Sky Muster is one of the most affordable ways to get online.

There are two main types of Sky Muster plans: standard Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus Premium.

Sky Muster plans vs Sky Muster Plus Premium plans

Sky Muster plans come with monthly data caps that split your usage into peak and off-peak periods.

Peak hours are from 7am to 1am and off-peak hours from 1am to 7am. If you exceed your data allowance for either period, your speed will be slowed down during these times until your next billing cycle.

The amount of data you get depends on the plan, with most providers offering a maximum of 300GB per month.

If you just want to browse the web, check emails and don't stream much video, a standard Sky Muster plan will do the job.

Sky Muster plans cost between $35-$50 a month and are best suited to light internet users.

Sky Muster Plus Premium plans offer uncapped data for all activities (subject to fair use).

They can provide higher speeds but are also more expensive, with the fastest plans costing over $100.

Sky Muster Plus Premium is a better option if you want to binge Netflix, work remotely, or run a business from the bush.

Our expert says

"The introduction of Sky Muster Plus Premium has taken us a step closer to bridging the digital divide between metro and regional or rural areas. It also means NBN satellite plans are now giving Starlink a proper fight in terms of upfront costs."

Mariam Gabaji

Senior Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

How much does satellite NBN cost?

Satellite NBN plans in Australia typically range from $40 to $110 per month, depending on the provider, type of plan and speed tier you choose

Here's a breakdown of average costs:

How fast are NBN satellite speeds?

While fixed-line NBN connections offer 6 speed tiers, satellite NBN customers can only access 4.

Here are the maximum speeds for Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus Premium plans.

However, these speeds are in no way guaranteed - it's just the maximum that is possible for each plan.

The type of speeds you'll end up getting will depend on your provider and network congestion during peak hours.

According to the ACCC, Sky Muster customers only receive around 66% of a plan's maximum download speeds during busy hours. This means if you're on an NBN 50 plan, your typical speeds will be closer to 33Mbps between 7pm and 11pm.

Can you get unlimited data with satellite NBN?

Yes. Households in rural and regional Australia can access unlimited data by signing up to an aforementioned Sky Muster Plus Premium plan.

These plans offer the following data perks over a standard Sky Muster plan:

• Unlimited, unmetered data for all activities (including streaming and VPN use)
• No peak/off-peak restrictions
• Burst speeds of up to 100Mbps (if network capacity allows)

Sky Muster Plus Premium plans are more expensive, but the additional costs can be justified if you want need an internet plan with uncapped data.

You can use the filters in our table to narrow down results to show just unlimited data plans. Prices for unlimited-data plans start from around $60 a month.

Which providers offer satellite internet plans in Australia?

Below is a selection of internet providers that offer NBN satellite plans in Australia:

• Activ8me
• Ant Communications
• IPStar
• MultiWave Networks
• Cmobile
• Skymesh
• Southern Phone

Previously, this list was larger. Several telcos have stopped selling Sky Muster plans to focus on wireless broadband, while others have been absorbed by larger providers. (Bordernet and Clear Broadband are now part of Skymesh, for example.)

Southern Phone requires customers to sign up to its NBN satellite plans over the phone.

MultiWave Networks sells directly to customers, but only in certain areas. You can select your region on its website to find out.

Is there an alternative to satellite NBN?

Yes. If you're in a location with limited access to broadband internet, there are still a few options apart from Satellite NBN.

Here are your main choices, with pros and cons for each:

• Starlink: Starlink is a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite service that provides faster speeds and lower latency than Sky Muster. However, you need to pay a premium for this service. Depending on the plan, you're looking at up to $100 extra per month, plus setup/hardware costs of around $1,000.
• Mobile Broadband: If you get strong and reliable mobile coverage at your home, a mobile broadband plan could be a good alternative to satellite NBN. With a solid 4G connection, you could see speeds up to 100Mbps, and 5G can technically exceed 1Gbps. (Checkout the latest Opensignal report for typical speeds.)
• Wireless Home Broadband: Similar to mobile broadband, wireless home broadband runs off Australia's mobile networks using signals from nearby mobile towers. Unlike mobile broadband (which is portable and designed for on-the-go use), Wireless Home Broadband is meant to replace fixed-line internet. It uses a stationary modem linked to your home address. Typical download speeds range from 16Mbps to 250Mbps, depending on the plan.

Not sure if your location is supported? Just pop your address into a provider's website to quickly find out which technologies are available to you.

Is satellite internet faster than the NBN?

NBN satellite's maximum speeds are comparable to the NBN's fixed-line technologies - but only up to NBN 100. This means you can get a maximum download speed of 100Mbps.

However, you also need to take typical speeds into account. Because satellite signals are susceptible to weather sensitivity and shared bandwidth, you can expect download speeds to vary considerably.

According to the ACCC's latest Measuring Broadband Australia program, NBN Sky Muster satellite users achieved average download speeds equivalent to 83.2% of their plan speeds across all hours, dropping to 66.1% during peak evening hours.

This translates to real-world median speeds of roughly 66-83Mbps on an NBN 100 plan.

In comparison, Starlink users in Australia experienced average download speeds of 183.9Mbps during all hours, decreasing to 162.2Mbps during busy hours.

If you require faster satellite speeds, Starlink currently has the edge.

How much does it cost to install an NBN satellite?

In most cases, standard NBN satellite installations are free, with no setup or activation fees. Both the satellite dish and modem are provided free of charge to the provider from NBN Co.

Your upfront costs when you first sign up will include the first month fee of your plan and payment for a Wi-Fi router if you don't already have one.

The router is required if you need multiple devices connected to the internet. The exception is if you just want satellite internet for your desktop computer, in which case you can easily plug in the ethernet cable directly and skip buying the router.

What's the best NBN satellite internet plan?

The best NBN satellite plan in Australia right now depends on your speed needs and budget.

If you just want an affordable plan for basic internet, Activ8me has the cheapest options with prices starting at under $40 per month.

If you require a faster connection with unlimited data, Cmobile and IPSTAR are pretty good bets - both have satellite NBN 100 plans priced under $100.

Is satellite NBN worth it?

In terms of the NBN technologies available, NBN satellite plans sit at the bottom tier.

However, those living in regional, rural or remote areas of Australia may have it as the only option to connect to the internet.

Frequently asked questions

• How do NBN satellite plans work?

  The NBN satellite service operates via two "Sky Muster" satellites that are owned by NBN Co. These relay signals between houses and a fixed tracking station on the ground to allow internet access to households.

  In order to connect to the NBN this way, your home must have a satellite dish installed and access to a compatible modem. You'll also need a Wi-Fi router if you want to connect more than a single computer to the internet.

• How does weather impact satellite NBN plans?

  Satellite NBN plans can be negatively impacted by weather conditions due to their reliance on geostationary satellites. Because the signal needs to travel roughly 36,000 km to and from space, heavy rain, storms, dense clouds, bushfire smoke, and even dust storms can absorb or scatter the signal, leading to slower speeds or temporary dropouts.
  Although Sky Muster Premium plans offer improved reliability, all satellite connections remain vulnerable to atmospheric interference. Activities like video calls and online gaming may therefore suffer during especially bad weather.

• What's better: Sky Muster or Starlink?

  Starlink is a US-based satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Because its satellites operate in low orbit, it is capable of delivering higher speeds and lower latency than satellite NBN. However, it is also significantly more expensive.

  By contrast, NBN's Sky Muster system uses high-orbit satellites around 36,000 km above the Earth. This results in higher latency and slower internet speeds compared to Starlink. On the plus side, it is also cheaper - especially when you factor in setup costs.

• Can I stream Netflix with satellite internet?

  Yes, you can stream Netflix with satellite internet.

  You'll be able to comfortably stream Netflix in Standard Definition (SD) on the Sky Muster plan as it only requires speeds of 3Mbps. If you're after 4K quality you may experience some issues on cheaper plans, as the minimum required speed for that is 15–25 Mbps.

  For comfortable HD streaming you may need to sign up to Sky Muster Plus Premium.

• Is satellite NBN suitable for gaming?

  Satellite NBN is fine for most types of games, but it is not ideal for fast-paced, competitive gaming. Because these plans higher latency around 600ms or higher, because data has to travel to space and back. That's a noticeable delay

• What happened to Sky Muster Plus?

  Sky Muster Plus was an old plan that provided speeds of up to 50Mbps and unmetered data excluding streaming and VPN traffic from midnight to 4pm.

  As of March 2025, Sky Muster Plus has been replaced by Sky Muster Plus Premium. All customers on Sky Muster Plus plans were automatically migrated to equivalent Premium plans.

• Can I still get ADSL in Australia?

  ADSL is still available in ultra-rural locations, but only in very limited circumstances. Copper telephone line services (the technology used by ADSL internet) have been left intact in a handful of suburbs and are still managed by Telstra. It does not accept new customers, however.

• How do I switch NBN satellite providers?

  To switch NBN satellite providers, start by checking your current contract for any exit fees or other requirements, especially if you're still locked in. When you choose a new provider, simply sign up and follow the prompts.

  You may need to supply your NBN service ID, and in most cases, you can continue using your current dish and modem. Most providers will handle the switch for you, but it's best not to cancel your existing plan until the new one is active.

• Does Telstra offer satellite NBN plans?

  Telstra does not currently offer NBN Sky Muster satellite plans. Telstra Satellite Internet is instead powered by Starlink and costs over $120 per month.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Michelle Kwong as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Chris Jager

Lead Shopping Editor

Chris Jager is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience in the Australian tech industry. He has contributed his expertise to top tech publications like PC World, Gizmodo, Business Insider, and Lifehacker Australia, where he also served as editor for five years. Chris holds a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from the University of Western Sydney and is widely regarded as a trusted voice in the tech space. See full bio

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