Tags: Australia, Satellite Ground Station, National Broadband Network
Publication: ZDNet.com
Publication Date: 11/15/2012

NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft passes above Mars’ south pole in this artist’s concept illustration. The spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since October 24, 2001. Image credit: Scott Webber

Australia will build a new satellite ground station to expand National Broadband Network (NBN) services to remote communities. The station will feature two 13.5-meter diameter satellite dishes.

The station will be located in Broken Hill, NSW, which offers ideal climate and reliable power infrastructure. Additionally, it is close to NBN’s core fiber network.

This is the ninth of 10 facilities across the Australian territory announced to support NBN’s long-term satellite services, which will start operations in 2015. Two new satellites will be launched that year to improve the speed of the service. This station will be the last one built by Cockram Corporation, which already built five other. Perkins will build the rest of the facilities in Western Australia. The total cost for all 10 stations is approximately $185 million.

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