Australia - Mobile Satellite Services

Synopsis

Mobile satellite services are crucial in Australia to ensure universal access to basic telephony products in very remote areas. Australia’s experience of satellites dates back to the 1950s and 1960s. Australian entrepreneur, Kerry Packer, was among the first to recognise the commercial potential of satellite communications. In 1977 he commissioned a report to investigate the launch of an Australian satellite. Subsequently Aussat was established in 1981 which was later sold to Optus in 1992. In 2009 Optus and Telstra are the major providers of mobile satellite services though the majority of terrestrial-based satellite services continue to be fixed services. Mobile satellite services are required for sea-based communications and fleet tracking services. However service charges remain high, which restricts growth in the use of services.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Introduction
  
  • 2.1 Mobile satellite services
    
• 3. Public subsidies and regulation
  
  • 3.1 Mobile satellite service band plan
    
  • 3.2 Mobile satellite phone subsidies
    
• 4. Major operators
  
  • 4.1 Telstra
    
    • 4.1.1 Inmarsat and maritime communications
      
    • 4.1.2 Iterra (VSATs)
      
    • 4.1.3 Iridium satellite
      
  • 4.2 Optus
    
    • 4.2.1 MobileSat
      
    • 4.2.2 Thuraya
      
  • 4.3 Pivotel Group
    
  • 4.4 VIX QuikTrak
    
  • 4.5 FedSat – Australia’s low earth orbit satellite
    
• 5. Usage and revenue estimates
  
  • 5.1 Revenue
    
• 6. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Estimate mobile satellite users – 2007 - 2011
• Table 2 – Optus total satellite revenue – 2007 - 2011