Written By: Alexandra Cain

Australia’s digital infrastructure is going to space – Amazon’s Project Kuiper is set to launch 3200 satellites into orbit to deliver satellite internet to customers across Australia including those living in regional, rural and remote areas of the country.

This kind of technology will be a core part of Australia’s future digital technology. But it’s only one cog in a complicated wheel of software and platforms that form the national digital backbone.

Different systems have their advantages and disadvantages. For instance, satellite internet can be interrupted by weather such as thick cloud, while land-based networks can be brought down by bushfire. So it’s not so much about satellites replacing other platforms as about how they fit with other technologies.

Set to launch in mid-2026, the Project Kuiper low Earth orbit satellite broadband network aims to provide good, affordable internet access in areas now without. The project, which also involves NBN Co, improves internet access for people working and studying in remote areas. It’s also a way to give people living remotely better access to telehealth.