Optus strikes deal with Musk’s Starlink, bypasses regional NBN
Optus has joined Telstra in circumventing the National Broadband Network and turned to Elon Musk’s satellite fleet Starlink to let its customers get signal almost anywhere in the country.
The second-largest Australian telecommunications company announced a deal on Wednesday that will let users access the internet and make calls on their phones via Starlink’s satellites from late 2025.
A SpaceX rocket launches in Florida with 60 Starlink satellites on board. AP
But TPG Telecom, the country’s third-largest provider, said the deal showed a decision by the competition regulator last month to block its network sharing agreement with Telstra was wrong, and that Optus was “never genuine in its claim” that it would exit the regions if it went through.
“Optus… was simply scared of competing with a stronger TPG Telecom,” said the company’s general manager of external affairs, James Rickards. “This further demonstrates the… decision on our network sharing deal has only entrenched the mobile duopoly in regional Australia.”
Beaming signals from space would also help Optus compete with Telstra’s superior regional tower network. Those were the towers that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission blocked from being shared with TPG Telecom, a deal which would have given Telstra additional spectrum.
Telstra has announced its own deal with Starlink, which will begin much sooner than Optus. However, it will only cover fixed addresses.
Optus has a cloud hanging over its business after the NSW integrity watchdog found one of its most senior executives, Gladys Berejiklian, engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” by advancing projects for her then-boyfriend’s electorate without declaring the conflict.
Ms Berejiklian remains with Optus,
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