NBN’s Amazon LEO satellite internet service delayed until mid-2027
Key takeaways
- NBN has confirmed its new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service, powered by Amazon Leo, won't start rolling out until around mid-2027.
- When it arrives, it will offer uncapped data, with 50Mbps and 100Mbps speed tiers and lower latency than the existing Sky Muster service.
- Eligible customers won't have to pay upfront for professional installation, equipment or an integrated Wi-Fi router.
Regional and remote Australians waiting for NBN's next-generation satellite service will need to hold on a little longer.
Powered by Amazon's Starlink rival, Amazon Leo, the new service won't reach customers until around mid-2027.
That's later than expected, with the service originally expected to launch towards the end of this year.
The rollout will happen progressively across the satellite footprint as capacity becomes available, so when you can connect will depend on where you live.
What should I expect with NBN's new satellite service?
Here's what NBN says the service will include:
- Uncapped data.
- Two speed tiers. Speeds of up to 50/10 Mbps should be enough for everyday browsing, streaming and working from home, while 100/20 Mbps will better suit larger households with more people and devices online at once.
- Lower latency and faster uploads than Sky Muster. Lower latency means less delay between sending a request and getting a response, which should make things like video calls, online gaming and other real-time activities feel more responsive.
- Professional installation and equipment, including an integrated Wi-Fi router, with no upfront wholesale charge for eligible customers.
- Ongoing support through NBN's nationwide assurance program.
- You'll also have a choice of participating Australian internet providers, so you can pick the retailer and plan that suits you rather than being locked into one.
All current satellite NBN customers will need to move to these next-generation plans as Sky Muster is set to be decommissioned by the end of 2027.
How does it compare to Sky Muster?
The big difference is how far the satellites sit from Earth.
Sky Muster orbits about 36,000km up.
That distance means data has much further to travel, which contributes to the higher latency of traditional satellite internet.
Amazon Leo uses over 3,200 LEO satellites positioned just a few hundred kilometres above Earth, which is much closer than traditional geostationary satellites that orbit at 36,000km.
Why did NBN pick Amazon over Starlink?
NBN has gone with Amazon's network instead, which you might know as Project Kuiper before it was renamed Amazon Leo in late 2025.
According to NBN, it went through a rigorous process, considering proposals and taking regulatory considerations into account, before deciding Amazon was the best partner for offering a new satellite internet service.
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