Satellite broadband is the delivery of broadband data using satellite signals. A small antenna or dish is installed on the roof (or other nbn-approved location) of a home or business to transmit and receive data from a satellite orbiting the earth. The satellite then transmits the data back to a network of satellite ground stations (much larger satellite dishes) and these connect to the internet via your preferred internet service provider. 

Yes. In nbn Sky Muster satellite areas, homes and businesses will have the option to keep their existing copper phone line active or switch to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service on a plan powered by nbn Sky Muster or nbn Sky Muster Plus. Remember, services connected over the nbn access network will not work during a power blackout, so you may want to keep your existing phone line active in case of emergency – especially if you don’t receive good mobile coverage at your address.

nbn Sky Muster and nbn Sky Muster Plus connections require the installation of a small satellite dish (typically 80 to 120cm in diameter) on your roof (or other nbn-approved location), as well as an nbn connection box at the point where the cable from the dish enters your home or business.

nbn does not currently charge your internet service provider for a professional installation which meets nbn’s requirements^~. Wiring and cabling changes, or the installation of additional wall outlets, may incur a fee. Ask your internet service provider what fees and charges will apply to you.

_{^~ nbn will assess whether an installation is standard, because practical and optimal installations differ at different locations. End customers should contact their preferred internet service provider to ask about the retail prices they charge.}

nbn does not currently charge your internet service provider for standard satellite equipment (being a small satellite dish (typically 80 to 120cm in diameter) and an nbn connection box at the point where the cable from the dish enters your home or business) as nbn owns and maintains such equipment. Check with your preferred internet service provider whether they have any other required equipment or other fees.

With nbn Sky Muster, all data counts towards your monthly data allowance at a wholesale level and there is a set amount per month to use for online activities. Whereas with nbn Sky Muster Plus, plans provide uncapped internet data for all activities, except video streaming^¶ and VPN traffic, that only count towards your monthly data allowance between 4pm and 12am midnight. Exclusions and fair use policies apply. For more information on uncapped activities, activities that may be shaped to proactively protect the nbn broadband access network and protect fair access to the network for all users, and exclusions, visit nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus or contact your preferred internet service provider. For details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider.

_{^¶Most video streaming, between 4pm – 12am midnight, counts towards your monthly data allowance, but embedded streaming video content on certain social media platforms, including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr and LinkedIn, is uncapped}

Typically, most people use their nbn satellite service at the same time in the evening between 7 and 11pm. During this busy time, end user experience may be impacted, including slower speeds. For details on how nbn Sky Muster Plus traffic is managed, including during and outside these hours, see nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus or contact your preferred internet service provider.

You will receive the full monthly data allowance from the day your nbn Sky Muster™ Plus plan is activated. Your monthly data allowance will then be reset on the first day of the next calendar month.

For plans powered by nbn Sky Muster Plus, once the monthly data allowance for video streaming^¶ and VPN traffic between 4pm and 12am midnight is exhausted, traffic on that plan will be shaped to 512kbps maximum wholesale download speeds and 256kbps maximum wholesale upload speeds for video streaming^¶ and VPN activities only between 4pm and 12am midnight for the remainder of the calendar month. To proactively protect and ensure the fair access to the nbn broadband access network for all users, nbn may from time to time, at its discretion, shape the following uncapped data activities to maximum wholesale upload and download speeds of 256kbps:  

• uploads and downloads via peer to peer; 
• uploads and downloads to cloud storage platforms; 
• PC and smartphone operating system updates; 
• software/application updates; 
• gaming software updates; 
• any other uncapped data traffic related to applications which nbn cannot identify.

Other uncapped data activity that nbn considers may cause adverse network impacts may also be added to the above list to be shaped, including streaming video and VPN outside of 4pm and 12am midnight. Other exclusions and fair use conditions may apply*.

_{^¶ Most video streaming, between 4pm – 12am midnight, counts towards your monthly data allowance, but embedded streaming video content on certain social media platforms, including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr and LinkedIn, is uncapped.}

_{^* Examples of unfair use include: routinely transferring large files greater than 20MB via email; downloading software, application or operating system updates for more than 20 unique devices; masking, manipulating or changing the signature of traffic to: present capped use as uncapped use, uncapped use as a different type of uncapped use, or otherwise avoid accurate data transfer measurement; performing excessive automated polling, refreshing or scraping of websites. It is also unfair use to knowingly allow any of these things. For further details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider.} 

As nbn is a wholesaler, you’ll need to speak to your preferred internet service provider to find out whether they offer plans powered by nbn Sky Muster Plus. In most cases, the change should be able to be completed without a further installation, as both the nbn Sky Muster and nbn Sky Muster Plus satellite services use the same nbn installation equipment.^~ Please confirm with your preferred internet service provider(s) whether they’ll provide any additional equipment or charge any fees.

_{^~ nbn will assess whether an installation is standard, because practical and optimal installations differ at different locations. End customers should contact their preferred internet service provider to ask about the retail prices they charge.}

As nbn is a wholesaler, you’ll need to contact your preferred internet service provider to change from a plan powered by nbn Sky Muster™ Plus to a plan powered by nbn Sky Muster. In most cases, the change should be able to be completed without a further installation, as both the nbn Sky Muster and nbn Sky Muster Plus satellite services use the same nbn installation equipment. Please confirm with your preferred internet service provider(s) whether they’ll provide any additional equipment or charge any fees.

nbn Sky Muster Plus plans provide uncapped internet data for all activities except video streaming^¶ and VPN use that only count towards your monthly data allowance between 4pm and 12am midnight. Exclusions and fair use conditions apply.* For more information on exclusions and fair use conditions, please refer to the nbn Sky Muster Plus wholesale Consumer Plans table or contact your internet services provider.

Note the types of video streaming^¶ and VPN traffic that count towards your monthly data allowance between 4pm and 12am midnight is subject to change, please refer to [nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus] for the most up-to-date information. 

_{^¶ Most video streaming, between 4pm – 12am midnight, counts towards your monthly data allowance, but embedded streaming video content on certain social media platforms, including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr and LinkedIn, is uncapped.}

nbn Sky Muster plans have two wholesale speeds tiers available. Speeds that you actually experience will fluctuate but wholesale speeds will peak at 12/1Mbps or 25/5 Mbps depending on the tier chosen.

nbn provides wholesale services to phone and internet providers. Note that 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 your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like your equipment quality, software, chosen broadband plan, signal reception or how your provider designs its network). Wholesale speeds for an nbn Sky Muster plan may be reduced if the monthly data allowance is exceeded. Satellite end users may also experience latency.

All plans powered by nbn Sky Muster Plus are based on a wholesale speed tier of 25/5Mbps. This means that nbn commits to supply speeds up to a peak wholesale speed of 25/5Mbps at least once a day (and will investigate services that are not able to reach wholesale speeds of 25/5Mbps at least once a day) but some plans powered by nbn Sky Muster Plus may be able to achieve higher speeds (subject to network availability). Speeds that you actually experience will fluctuate, and while some services have the potential to deliver wholesale speeds higher than 25/5Mbps from time to time (subject to available network capacity), this is not guaranteed. Wholesale speeds may be reduced if the monthly data allowance is exceeded. 

To proactively protect and ensure the fair access to the nbn broadband access network for all users, nbn may from time to time, at its discretion, shape the following uncapped data activities to maximum wholesale upload and download speeds of 256kbps:  

• uploads and downloads via peer to peer; 
• uploads and downloads to cloud storage platforms; 
• PC and smartphone operating system updates; 
• software/application updates; 
• gaming software updates; 
• any other uncapped data traffic related to applications which nbn cannot identify.

Other uncapped data activity that nbn considers may cause adverse network impacts may also be added to the above list to be shaped, including streaming video and VPN outside of 4pm and 12am midnight. Other exclusions and fair use conditions may apply*.

Note that 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 your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like your equipment quality, software and signal reception). Satellite end users may also experience latency. 

_{^* Examples of unfair use include: routinely transferring large files greater than 20MB via email; downloading software, application or operating system updates for more than 20 unique devices; masking, manipulating or changing the signature of traffic to: present capped use as uncapped use, uncapped use as a different type of uncapped use, or otherwise avoid accurate data transfer measurement; performing excessive automated polling, refreshing or scraping of websites. It is also unfair use to knowingly allow any of these things. For further details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider.}

The nbn Sky Muster Plus Fair Use Policy forms part of the agreement between nbn and internet service providers and is designed to help ensure fair access for all users to the nbn Sky Muster satellite network – especially during peak usage times. Internet services providers may have their own fair use conditions that apply to your retail contract. For more information, contact your internet service provider.

Your monthly data usage meter will reset on the first calendar day of each month.

Plans powered by nbn Sky Muster Plus have uncapped internet data for all activities except video streaming^¶ and VPN traffic that only counts towards your monthly data allowance between 4pm and 12am midnight. Once the monthly data allowance is exhausted, video streaming^¶ and VPN traffic will be shaped to 512kbps and maximum wholesale upload speeds will be shaped to 256kbps between 4pm and 12am midnight for the remainder of the calendar month. To proactively protect and ensure the fair access to the nbn broadband access network for all users, nbn may from time to time, at its discretion, shape the following uncapped data activities to maximum wholesale upload and download speeds of 256kbps:  

• uploads and downloads via peer to peer; 
• uploads and downloads to cloud storage platforms; 
• PC and smartphone operating system updates; 
• software/application updates; 
• gaming software updates; 
• any other uncapped data traffic related to applications which nbn cannot identify.

Other uncapped data activity that nbn considers may cause adverse network impacts may also be added to the above list to be shaped, including streaming video and VPN outside of 4pm and 12am midnight. Other exclusions and fair use conditions may apply*.

_{^* Examples of unfair use include: routinely transferring large files greater than 20MB via email; downloading software, application or operating system updates for more than 20 unique devices; masking, manipulating or changing the signature of traffic to: present capped use as uncapped use, uncapped use as a different type of uncapped use, or otherwise avoid accurate data transfer measurement; performing excessive automated polling, refreshing or scraping of websites. It is also unfair use to knowingly allow any of these things. For further details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider.} 

_{^¶ Most video streaming, between 4pm – 12am midnight, counts towards your monthly data allowance, but embedded streaming video content on certain social media platforms, including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr and LinkedIn, is uncapped.}

nbn Sky Muster Plus has data top-up options available for purchase at the wholesale level by internet service providers. Speak to your preferred internet service provider about data top-up options they may offer.

Data is how much content you download and upload from and to the internet, whereas speed is how fast this data travels between the internet and your devices. For example, every time you stream an online video, you’re downloading data. If you’re posting an image or saving a file to ‘the cloud’, you’re uploading data. The amount of data you require from your internet plan will be dependent on the kinds of activities you enjoy doing and how often.

Speeds will fluctuate over time. Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over he nbn broadband access network, depends on many factors including the nbn access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like your equipment quality, software, chosen broadband plan, signal reception, or how your provider designs its network). Satellite users may experience latency.

For nbn Sky Muster Plus, wholesale speeds may be reduced if the monthly data allowance is exceeded (refer to the question titled “What happens when I exhaust my monthly data allowance?”). 

To proactively protect and ensure the fair access to the nbn broadband access network for all users, nbn may from time to time, at its discretion, shape the following uncapped data activities to maximum wholesale upload and download speeds of 256kbps:  

• uploads and downloads via peer to peer; 
• uploads and downloads to cloud storage platforms; 
• PC and smartphone operating system updates; 
• software/application updates; 
• gaming software updates; 
• any other uncapped data traffic related to applications which nbn cannot identify.

Other uncapped data activity that nbn considers may cause adverse network impacts may also be added to the above list to be shaped, including streaming video and VPN outside of 4pm and 12am midnight. Other exclusions and fair use conditions may apply*.

_{^* Examples of unfair use include: routinely transferring large files greater than 20MB via email; downloading software, application or operating system updates for more than 20 unique devices; masking, manipulating or changing the signature of traffic to: present capped use as uncapped use, uncapped use as a different type of uncapped use, or otherwise avoid accurate data transfer measurement; performing excessive automated polling, refreshing or scraping of websites. It is also unfair use to knowingly allow any of these things. For further details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider.} 

nbn is a wholesaler and does not set retail prices. Please check with your internet service provider for specific plan costs.

Yes. Regardless of whether you’re uploading or downloading, if you are streaming video^¶ or using VPN between 4pm and 12am midnight, it will be counted towards your nbn Sky Muster Plus monthly data allowance.  Exclusions and fair use conditions apply. Visit nbnco.com.au/skymuster-plus or contact your internet service provider. For more details on fair use conditions, contact your internet service provider.

_{^¶ Most video streaming, between 4pm – 12am midnight, counts towards your monthly data allowance, but embedded streaming video content on certain social media platforms, including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr and LinkedIn, is uncapped.}