Fed gov’t preps LEO, wireless tests to replace copper USO

The federal government is preparing to test voice over LEOsats and NBN Co’s fixed wireless network as part of its program to reform the Universal Service Obligation regime and potentially lay the basis for the final shut down of copper services in Australia. The government has identiϐied 47 regions across all mainland states, Tasmania and the NT for potential trials, as well as a number of islands including the Tiwi, Christmas, and Torres Strait islands, Kangaroo Island and King Island.

The Department of Communications has begun soliciting bids from potential suppliers for test services.

Communications minister Michelle Rowland in October launched a consultation on future delivery of the USO. “While the USO is here to stay, our government wants to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and encompasses new and emerging technologies like quality fibre connections and satellite services,” the minister said at the time.

Rowland said that the government had yet to make a decision on the best approach to take to modernising the USO. The issue is currently subject to a consultation being run out of the Department of Communications.

A paper released by the department as part of that process noted: “LEOSats are currently commercially available to close to 100% of premises in Australia, and subject to validation and testing through technical trials, may be a viable future solution to support voice services for those outside the current fixed line footprint.”

Currently the USO is delivered by Telstra under contract with the Commonwealth.

The scheme is intended to ensure that every household has access to a Standard Telephone Service. It is delivered via Telstra maintaining operation of payphones and keeping the copper network alive in regional areas outside the NBN fixed line footprint.

The previous government in 2021-22 conducted Alternative Voice Services Trials to test new approaches to delivering voice outside NBN’s fixed line services. NBN Co, Optus, Telstra, Concerotel and Zetifi participated, with technologies including fixed wireless, 4G and GEOsats employed.

The USO consultation paper released last year noted: “These trials generally demonstrated that good quality voice services could be delivered over alternative technologies, particularly fixed wireless. However, they also identified a range of issues that still needed to be worked through, including issues with outages and customer support. A key limitation was that LEOSats were not able to be widely tested as they were not commercially available in Australia at the start of the trials.”

The new request for tender issued by the department said that “new and emerging technologies shows promise for providing greater options for delivery of voice services in regional and remote areas of Australia”.

It noted both the local launch of LEOsat services as well as the government’s $480 million spend to bolster NBN Co’s fixed wireless network.

“A key principle for government’s consideration of existing universal service arrangements is that any change to existing regulatory or contractual arrangements will only be considered if there are tested and proven alternatives to existing technologies and services,” a tender document said.

“However, existing real-world data on the use of emerging technologies, including LEOsats, for voice services is limited. Existing data is largely focused on the use and suitability of the platform for the delivery of broadband services rather than voice services.”

FOCUS ON RELIABILITY: The government is seeking to understand how LEOsats perform with voice, including issues such as reliability and operation during “adverse weather conditions and extreme climates” and when mains power is not available.

The planned technical trials will “assist the government to consider whether alternative technology platforms can deliver voice services at standards which are broadly equivalent to current services, with a particular focus on regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.”

“The government intends that trials will primarily provide quantitative data to help understand how service reliability and performance may be impacted over time by factors such as weather, climate, topography, equipment or local power issues,” the document said.

Under the plan developed by the government, a provider will need to have the capability to deliver services at 50 of the target sites it has identified. The department said it intends to work where possible with a successful tenderer to identify testing sites, which could potentially include government buildings, community facilities or Rural Fire Service buildings.

At least five sites a tenderer will need to test sites that don’t have reliable access to mains power.

“During the trials the Department may see beneϐit in obtaining more data and analysis about the performance of voice services and wish for the tenderer to trial voice service technologies at additional trial sites (whether in existing regions or new regions),” the document said. “In such an event the parties will enter into good faith negotiations on the terms (including price, having regard to the costs the tenderer is likely to incur at each additional new trial site).”

Each trial site will need to host at least two networks or services to supper reliable services. “At each trial site, the Tenderer must arrange to trial a voice service supported over a residential grade LEOSat service, noting Starlink LEOSat services are currently generally available for purchase across Australia,” the document said.

Other services the department may require to be trialled include NBN Co fixed wireless, other 4G and 5G networks, an “enterprise-grade LEOsat service” and other GEO or MEO sats.

The trials are expected to be carried out between April and September, although the government has flagged the potential for a further two six-month test periods. - Rohan Pearce, CommsDay 

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