Rural areas in Australia will now have speedy internet with the launch of the National Broadband Network satellite Sky Muster. (Photo : The Guardian)
Rural areas in Australia will now have speedy internet with the launch of the National Broadband Network satellite Sky Muster.
The $350-million satellite blasted off from French Guiana, South America without a single glitch, according to BBC News.
Sky Muster will deliver high-speed internet connection to remote rural areas in Australia such as Norfolk, Macquarie, Christmas, and Cocos Islands.
NBN Spokeswoman Frances Kearey said that the Sky Muster is one of the largest communication satellites in the world.
She added that this will help provide new opportunities in business, education, social connectivity, and health to cities that will benefit from this broadband connection.
The satellite has been previously described as Australia's great hope when it comes to internet connection.
Mashable reported that around 200,000 rural Australians will now have fast internet access at 25 megabits per second.
Another satellite will be launched in 2016 and 10 ground stations will be needed for support.
The Sky Muster was attached to the Ariane 5 rocket as it travelled through the earth's atmosphere at 11,000 kilometers per hour. It reached the space in 11 minutes after it took off.
The satellite has already detached from the rocket and is currently deploying solar panels.
According to NBN Chairman Ziggy Switkowski, the launch was explosive, loud, and muscular. He said that "it is a historic day" for the country.
The satellite's signal will be experienced by rural users by the second half of 2016.
The launch was highly supported by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as he previously championed this technology back when he was still a Communications Minister.
