A project team has been set up to fast track the launch of a new satellite broadband service for Westnet members. The service planned is a two-way satellite service, offering several plan options, and offering download speeds of up to 2Mbps.

The service will allow us to offer a broadband service to households outside of areas served by ADSL enabled exchanges.

A few years ago, Westnet offered a one-way satellite service that proved unreliable and tricky to manage, and the product was discontinued as it really wasn’t doing members justice. We believe the satellite broadband industry has come a long way during the past few years to overcome some of the underlying issues, and we feel it is going to be a great service for members.

Westnet is applying to participate in the DCITA’s Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG) program, which will provide subsidies to help cover the satellite dish, installation and router costs - so at this time we are working on a launch offer which would include free set up for those eligible under the ABG.

The launch is dependent on Westnet’s application to participate in the Australian Broadband Guarantee. Funding would be available to assist new satellite subscriptions, and subscriptions that have not benefited from similar DCITA funding programs in the past.

We aim to offer 3 plans, with several download quota options. The entry level plan would offer speeds of 512kbps (down speed) and 256kbps (up speed). Pricing is being worked on as we speak, including an option to ‘bundle and save’ with Westnet phone.

Westnet will be working with IPSTAR, the Satellite Broadband wholesaler to deliver the service. Set-up of the service involves the installation of a satellite dish, some cabling and a satellite router at the user’s premises.

We’re working on releasing the service in the coming few months. As more relevant information comes to hand, I’ll post more details.

Plenty to get on with!

Dan Scott
Marketing Manager, Westnet

Satellite Broadband Update

Westnet is actively working towards the release of our two-way Satellite Broadband. We are in our testing phase with Satellite Broadband and are currently experiencing a technical issue which will affect the end-users Broadband experience. As a result, we are working with our supplier to rectify so we can release the service as soon as it satisfies the quality you would expect from a Westnet service.

Westnet will initially launch Satellite Broadband to those who have registered their interest via the Coming Soon page of the Westnet website before releasing through our Sales team and Agent Network. We will provide regular updates as they come to hand.

Posted by Dan Scott

This entry was posted on Friday, July 13th, 2007 at 1:33 pm and is filed under Coming Soon. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.