Ericsson has signed new agreement with Australia’s National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) to deliver fixed wireless and satellite ground services across regional and rural Australia.

Under the new agreement NBN Co will continue its fixed wireless managed service partnership with Ericsson and will expand the partnership to include operation of the ground component of the Long Term Satellite Solution (LTSS) and customer service activation.

With the introduction of the LTSS, Ericsson will be the primary service partner for both NBN Co’s fixed wireless and satellite services, which are planned to cover over 1 million households, the company said.

The partnership aims to address NBN Co’s high-speed broadband demands in rural Australia. The service is expected to reach 12,000 to 15,000 installations per month at its peak in 2016.

Under this contract, Ericsson will also help migrate NBN Co’s 42,000 interim satellite users to the LTSS when it commences, providing them with an improved broadband service.

Ericsson will continue to be responsible for the operation of the fixed wireless network, and will take on the additional responsibility of managing the satellite ground systems when launched, the company said.

Greg Adcock, NBN Co chief operating officer, said, “This agreement will enable greater efficiencies and consistency of network management across both our fixed and satellite ground networks.”

Håkan Eriksson, head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand, said, “As we extend our strategic partnership with NBN Co, we look forward to delivering both fixed wireless and satellite services to rural and regional Australia.”

The initiative will also help bridge the digital divide and support economic and community growth, Eriksson said. Ubiquitous, affordable, dependable broadband to homes and businesses across Australia will have a tremendously positive impact on everything from education to health and social cohesion, he added.