NBN's second satellite blasting off in October

NBN's second satellite, Sky Muster II, has been given a launch date for 5 October 2016.

The new satellite will provide additional data capacity for providing satellite broadband services to regional areas of Australia who aren't eligible for a physical NBN connection.

NBN estimates that end users receive download speeds up to 25 Mbps and download speeds upload speeds up to 5 Mbps from the first satellite launched in October.

Skymuster also allows NBN resellers to supply wholesale broadband services from the satellite. Resellers include Activ8me, Ant Communications, Clear Networks, Harbour ISP, IPSTAR, reachnet and Sky Mesh.

Around 37,000 users were using interim services from the first Sky Muster, and it expects to hit 85,000 full-time users by June 2017.

NBN satellite architect Julia Dickinson said Sky Muster was an enormous project and could take some time to reach every corner of Australia.

“The NBN Sky Muster satellite service is transforming the day-to-day lives of people from all over the country," said Dickinson.

"We are already seeing how access to fast broadband for small businesses and farms in the most remote outback and offshore locations can improve productivity by better enabling the ability to store files in the cloud and avoid lengthy business trips by communicating with customers and suppliers through more reliable video conferencing."

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission estimates that NBN supplies 941,235 wholesale access services as of 31 March 2016. NBN's goal is to connect 8 million homes and businesses by 2020.

Sky Muster II will take off from the French Guiana Space Centre and will orbit 36,000km into the sky.