Botched software upgrade stutters NBN satellite connections

A botched software upgrade for the Viasat modems helping power NBN Co's satellite network last week has caused connection issues for rural and regional users.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield today conceded the upgrade "didn't go to plan".

After being pushed out to the networking equipment at NBN's satellite point of interconnect at Eastern Creek last Wednesday, users began reporting problems connecting to the Sky Muster network after the Viasat modems had been rebooted.

Instead of taking a matter of seconds to reconnect to the network, users are being left waiting a minimum of ten minutes for internet access.

Despite NBN Co's advice to leave modems running, many users in rural and regional areas turn their modems off when not in use to conserve solar energy and save on power costs.

NBN Co was unable to provide a figure for how many of the 30,000-odd end users connected to its satellite network were affected by the issue, as complaints are handled by its service provider partners. iTnews understands the figure is substantial.

Viasat is understood to be currently working on a new version of the software to address the bug. It is expected to be rolled out to devices next week.

NBN satellite services have been available to end users since April this year, following the launch of the network builder's first Sky Muster satellite last October.

Its second, Sky Muster II, set off into space early this morning.