NewSat's satellite access for rural areas put on hold

According to NewSat CEO, Adrian Ballintine, the ABG licence would qualify NewSat to receive a subsidy for the provision of broadband access services via satellite to Australians living in rural and remote communities where such services are not currently available.

“This decision was unexpected, particularly following earlier positive indications and given the Department’s recent involvement with the West Australian Government to award a $2 million tender to NewSat to rollout broadband access services in the Kimberley,” he said. “The Kimberley project drew high praise from Government officials and passed its proof of concept stage last week.”

According to Ballintine, NewSat can reapply for the license in two months. It will work with the Department to address their concerns and seek an early review of the decision.

“Given that our delivery platform has been acquired, is in place and is ready to connect consumers today. Delay risks continuing to deny eligible rural and remote
Australians early access to broadband access services that metropolitan Australia takes for granted,” he said.

There are several options for review of the decision including re-application with an amended proposal. NewSat is pursuing these options with vigour and urgency and is confident that the issues and possible misinterpretations by the assessors will be resolved, said Ballintine.

Currently NewSat Limited provides a full range of managed communication services, telemetry, tracking and communications and carrier monitoring from its teleports in Perth, Adelaide and Newcastle to Australia/Oceania, Asia, the Middle East and Africa