ACCC expands broadband report to Starlink, NBN Sky Muster
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The news: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has expanded its 'Measuring Broadband Australia' program to now measure the performance of satellite services, with its latest report including performance data for Starlink and NBN Sky Muster.
The numbers: The report found that Starlink — the satellite network developed by Elon Musk's spaceflight company SpaceX — outperformed NBN Sky Muster in terms of delivering higher data transmission speeds and lower latency.
The maximum speed for NBN Sky Muster observed in the report was approximately 111 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 22 Mbps for uploads. Starlink connections are capable of higher speeds, with the report recording peak speeds of approximately 470 Mbps for downloads and 74 Mbps for uploads.
The average latency for Starlink was 29.8 milliseconds across all hours, compared to 664.9 milliseconds for NBN Sky Muster services. Latency refers to the time it takes to send data from a user’s device to a server and back.
Starlink’s lower latency is indicative of a more reliable experience than NBN Sky Muster when using real-time applications such as video conferencing and online gaming.
The report also found that Starlink’s average download speed was 192 Mbps across all hours, decreasing to 165.5 Mbps during the busy hours of 7pm to 11pm on weeknights. Starlink’s upload speeds were steady throughout the day, with an average speed of 28.6 Mbps across all hours compared to 27.8 Mbps during busy hours.
NBN Sky Muster recorded an average download speed of 83.2% of maximum plan speeds across all hours, decreasing to 66.1% during busy hours. NBN Sky Muster’s upload speeds were also relatively steady throughout the day, with an average speed of 112.6% of plan speeds across all hours and 102.6% during busy hours.
For NBN fixed-line connections in September, during busy hours the average download speed was 100.9% of plan speed.
What they said: "Many consumers in rural and remote areas do not have access to a fixed-line network and rely on alternatives such as satellite services to connect to the internet," ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said.
"We have expanded the Measuring Broadband Australia program to include performance data for satellite services to help these consumers make informed decisions about which service may offer the best value for them."
The source: ACCC media release
