Early adopters might pay less for NBN Co’s Starlink rival

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 19 February 2026

NBN Co has revealed proposed pricing for its next-generation satellite internet plans, powered by the same type of technology as Starlink. Wholesale prices are set to start at $46.08 per month for a 50Mbps satellite NBN plan, which could translate to around $75 per month for end users.

The network builder has, however, proposed an introductory offer for current Sky Muster satellite internet customers that would see them get lower prices for swapping to the next-generation services within 90 days of it going live. Customers who swap to the 50Mbps satellite plan would get a reduced wholesale cost of $35.84 per month for the first two financial years, which could translate to around $60 per month, depending on the provider.

NBN Co also plans to offer a 100Mbps plan at a wholesale price of between $61.71 per month and $66.30 per month for customers who upgrade early. NBN Co says this should translate to a lower or similar price to the current 100Mbps Sky Muster Plus plans (around $99 per month).

As part of the upgrade process for existing customers, NBN Co is proposing that customers get free hardware and free installation.

Amazon's next-generation satellite internet service will be powered by Amazon's Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) constellation. Amazon Leo uses Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, which are lower in Earth's orbit. As such, they're able to deliver faster download speeds and lower latency. Sky Muster satellites can tend to have latency over 600ms, while LEO satellites can achieve under 80ms. Starlink also uses LEO satellites for its technology.

NBN Co's proposed pricing would see its 50Mbps offer a cheaper entry point to LEO internet when compared to Starlink, at least for customers who upgrade early. Starlink's cheapest plan is currently $69 per month with speeds of 100Mbps. NBN Co's proposed 100Mbps plan would likely end up being more expensive than Starlink's equivalent, however.

Here are Starlink's current residential plans:

Starlink Residential 100 Mbps

Satellite Download Speeds: Up to 100 Mbps (typically 80-100 Mbps) Upload Speeds: 15-35 Mbps
Unlimited Data

$75/mth

Min. cost $75

Go to Site

$75/mth

Min. cost $75

Go to Site

The proposed pricing has been shared with stakeholders, including providers and consumer advocacy groups, and may change.

NBN Co plans to start testing the next-generation satellite plans in quarter three, followed by a full launch in quarter four. All satellite customers will eventually need to move to the next-generation plans, with NBN Co planning to transition customers by the end of 2027, with the Sky Muster satellites set to be decommissioned by the end of 2028.

Hot tip: Make WhistleOut a preferred source in Google

Did you like this article? Good! Why not make us a preferred source in Google? Click below, tick the box, and WhistleOut stories will show up more often when you search for related content.

Make us a preferred source in Google

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio