Businesses advised to place order early to avoid disruption

nbn is urging businesses to prepare to migrate their ‘Special Services’ to the nbn™ broadband access network ahead of the first disconnections.

The company has released a series of White Papers announcing businesses within its fixed-line footprint must now plan for the migration of services such as Ethernet Lite, Wholesale Business Digital Subscriber Lines (BDSL) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) phone and internet lines to the new network.

While there has been forced disconnection dates for most business grade services such as phone, internet, and EFTPOS since 2014, this is the first time the company has triggered the disconnection of ‘Special Services’, which simultaneously use voice, video and data services.

Businesses in areas where existing copper-based networks have already been switched off will need to work with their retailer to move their affected services over to the nbn™ access network. All other businesses will have the normal 18-month window to migrate their services to the new network from the day they are able to connect.

With an estimated 200,000 services scheduled to commence disconnection from November 2018 onwards, nbn is increasing its communication activity to businesses with ‘Special Services’ to encourage them to prepare to move these complex systems to the nbn™ access network with as much time as possible.

nbn’s Executive General Manager of Business, Sales and Marketing, Ben Salmon said:

“It’s important for businesses to know that moving these services to the nbn™ access network is not an automatic process and can take longer than switching over standard voice and broadband services.

“To increase awareness about what businesses need to do to make the switch, we are boosting our communications activity by refreshing information on the nbn™ website about ‘Special Services’, commencing direct mail marketing and having one-on-one engagements with industry and enterprise customers who may be affected.

“We are particularly urging large businesses that have multiple sites, high and symmetrical speed requirements, multi-line telephony and video conferencing facilities as well as small and medium-sized businesses with multiple phone lines to get in touch with their service provider and make a plan to move over to the new network.

“Businesses who have made the migration early are already starting to see the benefits such as embracing services like cloud computing, multi-line video conferencing and multimedia rich applications to maximise efficiency and lower operating costs.”

White Paper disconnection process:

Region Disconnection Date prior to Special Services Disconnection Date

Region Disconnection Date after Special Services Disconnection Date

Questions to ask before connecting your business to the nbn™ access network:

• What business products are offered to replace my existing products?
• How much data/what plans based on wholesale speed tiers do I need?
• Will my existing services be affected?
• How should I prepare for the migration process?
• Will my devices be compatible?

Visit the nbn™ website to learn more about ‘Special Services’ for business as well as what you need to do before connecting to the nbn™ access network.

The nbn™ access network is currently available to more than one in two Australians, is scheduled to be three quarters built by mid-next year and complete by 2020.

Notes to editor:

• ‘Special Services’ are a set of telecommunication products delivered on copper-based technology, primarily targeted at the business market. Previously these services didn’t have a disconnection date, but a White Paper process has now established ‘Special Services’ disconnection dates to migrate these services over to the nbn™ access network.
• Disconnection dates will vary based on White Paper publication date, when the nbn™ access network is available and which nbn™ access technology is available. For more information regarding ‘Special Services’ and the availability of equivalent products over the nbn™ access network go to: http://www.nbnco.com.au/connect-business/special-services.html

About nbn:

• nbn is building a new and upgraded, fast wholesale broadband access network to enable communities across Australia to access fast broadband from their retail service provider. Our goal is to connect eight million homes and businesses by 2020.
• The rollout of the nbn™ access network sets the scene for one of the biggest transformations to Australia’s telecommunications industry involving retail service provider network upgrades and the establishment of a network to provide access to fast broadband to Australians.
• Connecting to the nbn™ access network is not automatic and is a process which may take some time and preparation. nbn is working with the service providers and industry to help them better understand who is responsible for which portions of their internet experience and what steps they can take in order to receive the best possible service.
• The speeds experienced on services over the nbn™ access network are determined by a range of factors such as the technology used to deliver the network as well as some factors outside our control like equipment quality, software, broadband plans, signal reception and how your service provider designs their network.
• Fast broadband like that delivered via the nbn™ access network can provide a range of benefits for Australian businesses such as opportunities to work from home, drive efficiencies and lower operating costs.