Mr Windsor has welcomed the news, saying the National Broadband Network (NBN) Long-Term Satellite Service will provide the 3 per cent of Australian premises that fall outside the footprint of the NBN fibre and fixed wireless services with peak download speeds equivalent to or even faster than that available in the cities.

Under the agreement Mr Windsor struck with the Prime Minister on the formation of government after the last election, the NBN rollout was focused in country areas and a cross-subsidy was introduced to make NBN’s wholesale price exactly the same in the country as it is in the cities.

Mr Windsor is pleased to see the continued rollout of the NBN across regional Australia.

“The NBN will transform life in country Australia,” he said.

“High-speed broadband is the solution to the tyranny of distance in the bush.

“Country people will be able to access health services, international markets and more flexible work practices from their own homes, without having to travel long distances.

“No matter how remote your home is, you’ll be able to access broadband at speeds as fast as or faster than what’s currently available in the cities, and 10 times faster than what’s currently available via satellite.

“And my agreement with the government means country people won’t have to pay more for high-speed broadband than city people.

“In terms of both speed and cost, the NBN will level the playing field for regional Australians.”

The $620 million contract to build the satellites was awarded to Space Systems/Loral.

NBN Co. will also install other equipment including satellite dishes as part of the service, which will offer download speeds of up to 12Mbps.

Until the Long-Term Satellite Service comes on-line, the NBN Co.’s Interim Satellite Service is available to country people with download speeds of up to 6Mbps.