The ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for all issues related to ICT.

The ITU informed NBN Co overnight that in regional Australia have followed the correct approvals process and confirmed it was not unusual to purchase satellites prior to finalising their positions in orbit over the Australia.

The advice follows , during a parliamentary committee this week, that there is a risk of NBN Co missing out on allocated orbital slots which could delay the planned satellite launch.

NBN Co chief executive, Mike Quigley, told the inquiry the company had yet to receive a formal slot approval from the ITU as the process could take years to finalise, adding that the company would continue to prepare the satellite for launch.

"It is possible for a company to purchase a satellite in advance of it being put into use and the orbital slots being finalised," the ITU told NBN Co.