NBN Co has opened an industry consultation on wholesale pricing for its upcoming residential low Earth orbit satellite broadband service, as it steps up efforts to hold onto satellite market share ahead of a shift to Amazon’s faster LEO constellation.
In discussion papers released alongside a formal statement, the national network builder outlined “introductory” wholesale prices it says would sit at or below current Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus equivalents.
The proposal comes as NBN Co works toward proof-of-concept trials expected to begin in July and a longer-term plan to retire Sky Muster by 2030.
“NBN Co is proposing to price its introductory NBN Leo plans for existing NBN satellite customers who upgrade early to be less than or equal to the FY26 wholesale price of Sky Muster Plus satellite services,” it wrote in its statement.
Under the proposal, those introductory rates would be locked in for the first two years after launch, indexed to inflation.
However, eligibility would be time-limited: customers would need to place an order for the new Amazon-backed service within 90 days of launch to access the offer.
As part of the transition, NBN Co plans to consolidate existing entry-level satellite tiers. The 12/1Mbps and 25/5Mbps Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus services would be folded into a single Amazon LEO-based 50/10Mbps plan.
Customers who switch inside the 90-day window would be able to buy the 50/10Mbps service via retailers at a wholesale price of $35.84 per month for the first two financial years after launch.
For existing Sky Muster Plus 50/10Mbps customers, NBN Co is proposing an equivalent tier on the Amazon LEO service at a wholesale price of $46.08, on the same introductory terms.
Customers on Sky Muster Plus 100/5Mbps would be offered a move to a higher-capability LEO tier delivering 100/20Mbps.
Initially at least, the company is also proposing to replace existing customers’ Sky Muster receiving equipment at no cost, NBN Co chief development officer, regional & remote Gavin Williams said.
“We aim to deliver on our customers’ high expectations for speed and reliability, backed by $0 equipment and the same, friendly, professional installation and service that sets us apart,” he said.
“We want all eligible customers, delivery partners and regional communities to be ready for a smooth transition to the new NBN LEO broadband service, powered by Amazon Leo, as soon as the constellation is switched on across Australia.”
NBN Co said the incoming Amazon LEO service is expected to cover a footprint of around 300,000 users, with testing and trials in Tasmania scheduled between July and September this year.
The company also set out a preliminary migration timeline, saying it is aiming to complete customer moves to the new service in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2027, with decommissioning of its current geostationary satellites to begin a year later.
NBN Co says it would keep operating Sky Muster until at least 2028, despite the satellites being projected to reach end of life in the early 2030s.
“NBN Co is working in close collaboration with Amazon Leo on product development and is on track to begin testing and trials in the second half of 2026,” the company said.
The progressive roll out of NBN Co LEO will be dependent upon Amazon Leo’s global deployment and launch plans.
For now, there are no changes to the NBN Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus service and the company’s two Sky Muster satellites that are projected to reach end of life in the early 2030s
Announced (5 August 2025), NBN Co partnered up with Amazon’s Project Kuiper to deliver ‘city-fast’ broadband speeds to rural and regional communities nationwide.
