Australia's NBN Co has stopped taking new subscriptions for the interim satellite service (ISS) incorporated into the National Broadband Network, after hitting the subscriber limit.
The ISS was launched in July 2011 as a stopgap measure until NBN Co can launch its own satellites, scheduled for 2015. It has a limit of 48,000 users, and this number has now been reached.
The NBN website confirms it is no longer possible to register for or order a new interim satellite service.
NBN Co and Australia's communications ministry are now considering whether to extend the capacity of the ISS, Fairfax Media reported. The interim services are being provided over Optus and IPStar satellites.
The original NBN plan called for wireless and satellite technologies to cover the 7% of Australian households not scheduled to be connected to the main FTTH network.
The previous Labor government had committed to spending A$620 million ($551.1 million) to launch two satellites with capacity for 200,000 customers and downlink speeds of up to 25Mbps.
The new Coalition government is reviewing the technology mix to be used in the NBN, with the goal of speeding up and reducing the cost of the rollout, but wireless technologies are if anything expected to play more of a role in the new model.