Applies to
300,000+ NBN satellite premises
Transition guide · Australia
Sky Muster is being replaced by Amazon Leo: what it means for you
The short answer
If you're on Sky Muster or Sky Muster Plus: you don't need to do anything yet, and nobody is being cut off — Sky Muster runs until at least the end of 2028. When the Amazon Leo migration reaches your area, NBN is funding new equipment and professional installation at no cost, and there's a 90-day early-mover pricing window worth knowing about. The one genuine decision: whether to wait for the free managed upgrade, or switch to Starlink now if your current service is unbearable. Both are laid out honestly below.
1
What's actually happening
In August 2025, NBN Co signed an eight-year agreement with Amazon to replace its two geostationary Sky Muster satellites with Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), a low-Earth-orbit constellation. The deal covers more than 300,000 satellite-eligible premises — every existing Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus customer, plus new customers inside the NBN satellite footprint. Services will be sold the way NBN always works: wholesale through your existing retail provider (Skymesh, Activ8me, and the rest), not directly by NBN or Amazon.
Why it's a genuine upgrade, not a sideways move: Sky Muster's satellites sit ~36,000 km up, which is why the latency runs past 600 ms and video calls struggle. Leo satellites orbit at a small fraction of that distance — the same physics that makes Starlink feel like city broadband. NBN's stated goal is closing the gap between metro and remote internet.
2
The confirmed timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | NBN Co × Amazon eight-year agreement announced |
| Jul–Sep 2026 | Proof-of-concept trials begin — Tasmania first |
| Q4 2026 | Full commercial rollout expected to commence |
| Q4 2027 | Bulk of customer migrations targeted for completion |
| End 2028 | NBN committed to operating Sky Muster until at least this date |
| ~2032 | Sky Muster satellites reach expected end of life |
Restated from NBN Co statements and industry reporting (iTnews, SatNews), checked July 2026.
Dates can move: the rollout pace depends on Amazon Leo's global satellite deployment, which is running behind Amazon's original schedule. Rollout order beyond "Tasmania first" has not been published — we'll update this page as NBN announces area timing, and we don't guess at what hasn't been announced.
3
What it costs you
Equipment and installation: $0. The Leo service uses a different dish, so new hardware is required — but NBN has committed to providing the equipment and a professional standard installation at no cost to eligible existing satellite customers. The transition is funded by NBN Co.
Monthly pricing — the 90-day window. NBN's proposed pricing folds the old speed tiers into faster Leo equivalents at or below current wholesale rates — but the introductory rate has two conditions: you must order within 90 days of the Leo service becoming available in your satellite serving area (so the clock starts when it reaches your area, not at national launch), and disconnect your old Sky Muster service within 90 days of your Leo service activating. Meet both and the rate is held for the first two years, indexed to inflation:
| If you're on | You'd move to | Wholesale price |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Muster 12/1 or 25/5 | Leo 50/10 Mbps | $35.84/mo (within the 90-day window) |
| Sky Muster Plus 50/10 | Leo 50/10 Mbps | $46.08/mo (same terms) |
| Sky Muster Plus 100/5 | Leo 100/20 Mbps | To be confirmed |
These are wholesale data-usage rates confirmed in NBN's 3-Year SAU Pricing Roadmap (effective 1 July 2026, held flat to FY29) for Sky Muster Plus. NBN has proposed holding the equivalent Leo service at the same rates for early switchers who meet the 90-day dual condition above. Your retailer sets the final bill. Checked July 2026.
Wholesale is not what you pay. The prices above are what NBN charges the retailer. For scale: NBN's current wholesale Sky Muster 50/10 tier underlies retail plans that sell for around $90/month (e.g. Skymesh Ultra50 is $74.95 for 6 months then $89.95 ongoing). Expect the Leo retail price from your provider to sit similarly above the wholesale figure — shop between retailers (Skymesh, Activ8me, Aussie Broadband) when it launches.
4
How much better it actually is
| Sky Muster today | NBN Leo service | |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit | Geostationary, ~36,000 km | Low Earth orbit — a fraction of the distance |
| Latency | 600 ms+ (video calls struggle) | LEO-class — comparable to Starlink |
| Speed tiers | 12/1, 25/5, 50/10, 100/5 Mbps | 50/10 and 100/20 Mbps at launch; the underlying tech supports far more |
| Peak-hour congestion | A known Sky Muster weakness | Constellation capacity designed to hold up in the busy hours |
| Equipment | Existing dish | New terminal — supplied and installed free |
Restated from NBN Co and industry reporting. Real-world Leo performance in Australia won't be independently measured until trials run — we'll publish ACCC-grade numbers when they exist, not before.
5
Your honest options — wait, or switch to Starlink now
This is the part NBN's own material won't lay out for you, because they'd rather you waited. Both paths are legitimate; which is right depends on how bad your current service is and how much the wait costs you.
Wait for the Leo migration
Free new equipment, free professional install, managed transition through your existing provider, early-mover pricing at or below what you pay now, and no risk of being cut off — Sky Muster runs until at least end-2028.
Right for you if: your Sky Muster service is tolerable, you value zero cost and zero hassle, and Tasmania-first timing means your area may be 2027. The free upgrade is genuinely good — patience is rewarded here.
Switch to Starlink today
Available across Australia right now — LEO speed and latency this week, not next year. Rental hardware from $0 upfront (+$19 shipping), residential plans from roughly $75/mo. You leave the NBN satellite system and its free-migration path.
Right for you if: your current service is genuinely hurting — work, telehealth, schooling — and 12–18 months is too long to wait. Check for a demand surcharge at your address before ordering, and note you'd be paying retail for what the migration would eventually give you free.
The honest middle path many households will land on: if Sky Muster is workable, wait — the free managed upgrade is a good deal. If it's costing you real money or opportunity now, Starlink is a legitimate escape hatch today, and you can always reassess when Leo pricing and real-world performance are published. See our full Australia satellite comparison for the complete picture.
6
Quick answers
Do I have to switch?
Eventually, yes — Sky Muster is being retired, with NBN targeting the bulk of migrations by late 2027 and committing to run Sky Muster until at least end-2028. But nothing is required of you yet, and the switch will be managed through your provider when your area's turn comes.
Will it cost me anything to move?
NBN has committed to $0 equipment and free professional standard installation for eligible existing satellite customers. Your monthly plan price is set by your retailer; NBN's proposed wholesale rates are at or below current Sky Muster pricing if you order within 90 days of the service reaching your area and disconnect your old service within 90 days of activation.
Do I need a new dish?
Yes — Leo uses different technology, so a new terminal is required. It's supplied and installed at no cost as part of the migration.
When does my area get it?
Tasmania first, with proof-of-concept trials from July–September 2026 and commercial rollout expected from Q4 2026. Area-by-area order beyond that hasn't been published. Register below and we'll email you when timing for your area is announced.
Is this the same as Starlink?
Same class of technology — low-Earth-orbit satellites with low latency — different network. Starlink is SpaceX's constellation, sold directly and via resellers today. Amazon Leo is Amazon's constellation, which NBN will resell through your existing internet provider. Leo is Starlink's first serious competitor.
What happens to the Sky Muster satellites?
They keep operating until all customers are migrated — NBN has committed to at least end-2028, and the satellites are viable to roughly 2032. NBN is exploring options for the assets after that.
Get one email when your area's timing is announced
NBN hasn't published the area-by-area rollout order yet. Leave your email and postcode and we'll send you one email when timing for your area is announced — and one when the 90-day pricing window opens.
Two emails maximum. Unsubscribe link in every email.
Sources & method
- NBN Co media statement — selection of Amazon's Project Kuiper, eligibility and $0 installation commitments (Aug 2025), restated.
- Wholesale rates ($35.84 / $46.08 / $66.56) — NBN Co 3-Year SAU Pricing Roadmap, effective 1 July 2026, binding and held flat to FY29 (primary source, verified).
- 90-day dual-condition window, tier mapping and two-year rate hold — NBN Co public statement, 19 February 2026, accompanying the LEO industry consultation. (The consultation papers themselves are distributed confidentially via nbn's Product Development Forum; the public statement is the citable source.)
- Timeline — Tasmania trials Jul–Sep 2026, Q4 2026 commercial rollout, Q4 2027 bulk migration, Sky Muster operation to at least end-2028 — NBN Co statements, restated.
- Starlink Australia pricing and rental hardware model — starlink.com checkout, verified; see our Australia comparison for the full, dated breakdown.
OrbitalNodes is independent and not affiliated with NBN Co, SpaceX, Starlink, Amazon, or Amazon Leo. Wholesale prices are not retail prices — your provider sets your bill. Details here are restated from the cited sources as at the date shown and will change as consultation concludes; always confirm with your provider before acting. Some outbound links may be affiliate links, at no cost to you — they never change what we report. How we make money.