The short version

Key points

  • NBN Co is reportedly considering Amazon’s Project Kuiper for future low Earth orbit satellite services, subject to government approval.
  • Binge is expected to lose HBO content when Max launches in Australia at the end of March 2025.
  • Telstra was fined $626,000 after sending more than 10 million text messages that breached spam rules.
  • HFC connections represented the largest share of planned NBN outages in the September 2024 service quality data.
  • Other social media companies have criticised YouTube’s exemption from Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions.

NBN Co reportedly favours Amazon Kuiper

NBN Co is reportedly favouring Amazon’s Project Kuiper over Elon Musk’s Starlink for future satellite broadband services in rural and regional Australia. The proposed shift would move beyond the existing Sky Muster service, which uses two geostationary satellites and has been criticised for its performance with activities such as video streaming and online gaming.

NBN Co is planning to transition to low Earth orbit satellite services. Starlink already has a substantial number of satellites in operation, while Kuiper has yet to launch commercially. Amazon has said Australia will be among the initial countries to access Kuiper services, with operation expected by 2026.

The reported agreement would require approval from the Finance Minister and Communications Minister. The upcoming Federal election could also delay major decisions during the caretaker period. If confirmed, the arrangement would represent a significant long-term outsourcing decision for NBN Co’s satellite services.

HBO content is moving from Binge to Max

Max is expected to launch in Australia at the end of March 2025, with HBO content moving away from Binge. Binge will continue offering other international programs, including Saturday Night Live, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Taskmaster, the complete US version of The Office and The Walking Dead.

Binge plans start at $10 per month, with discounted annual plans also available. Foxtel customers are expected to receive access to the Max basic plan with advertising at no additional cost under an agreement involving Warner Bros Discovery.

The change adds another service to Australia’s increasingly fragmented streaming market. Binge is also moving towards local content and sports, while Max is expected to provide access to Warner Bros Discovery content. Customers may therefore need to use a separate app and subscription platform to follow programs that were previously available through Binge.

Telstra fined over unwanted text messages

The Australian Communications and Media Authority fined Telstra $626,000 after finding that the company sent 10.5 million text messages between 2022 and 2024 that did not comply with Australia’s spam laws.

More than 10.3 million of the messages required recipients to provide personal information to opt out, which is prohibited unless prior consent has been obtained. Telstra also sent 43,000 messages between October 2022 and July 2023 to customers who had not consented, or who had withdrawn their consent.

The ACMA said spam consent rules have been in place for more than 20 years. The penalty follows more than $16 million in spam-related penalties issued to Australian businesses during the previous 18 months.

HFC connections recorded the most planned NBN outages

The ACCC’s NBN service quality and network performance data for September 2024 found that hybrid fibre coaxial connections accounted for 30% of all planned outages. HFC represented 52% of planned outages affecting more than 500 individual sites.

NBN Co said many planned outages were proactive measures intended to address potential network degradation before it caused a service fault. Other outages were linked to network upgrades, including work to support faster fixed-line plans.

Fibre to the premises connections accounted for 22% of planned outages, while fibre to the node represented 19%. Fixed wireless accounted for 17.7%, fibre to the curb for 9%, and fibre to the building for 3%. Satellite services recorded 20 planned outages, or about 1% of the total.

YouTube exempt from under-16 social media restrictions

Australia introduced legislation in November 2024 prohibiting social media access for people under 16, with potential fines of up to $49.5 million for platforms that fail to comply. Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat are among the platforms affected, while YouTube received an exemption because it is considered an important educational resource.

Other technology companies have criticised the exemption, arguing that YouTube also uses algorithmic recommendations, comments and social interactions. They say these features can expose young users to similar risks and that the exemption creates an uneven regulatory environment.

The Australian Government maintains that YouTube serves an important educational purpose. The debate centres on whether that role is sufficient to distinguish YouTube from other platforms used by young people for entertainment and social interaction.

TechManPat’s conclusion

I think NBN Co’s reported preference for Kuiper is a significant gamble because Starlink is already operating at scale while Kuiper remains unproven. I am also concerned about the fragmentation caused by HBO moving from Binge to Max, Telstra’s poor spam compliance and the reliability implications of frequent planned NBN outages. In my view, YouTube’s exemption makes the under-16 social media policy look inconsistent, because its recommendations, comments and endless content can resemble other social platforms.
Source note

This knowledge-centre summary is based on the linked TechManPat video and reflects the information available when it was published. Check current pricing, availability and policies before acting.