Carlton homes and businesses can now switch on to the National Broadband Network and start experiencing the benefits of very fast broadband as the rollout continues across the country.

The network now passes 2,450 homes and businesses in the area around Nicholson, Victoria, Rathdown and Lygon Streets (see map below), with nearly 400 premises able to order a service today.

Professor Thas Nirmalathas, Associate Director of the Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society welcomed the news that the NBN has arrived in Carlton and the opportunities it will bring.

“Today is very exciting for local homes and businesses who are some of the first to receive the NBN in Australia and the third metropolitan area in Victoria,” Professor Nirmalathas said.

“We look forward to witnessing the digital advancements the NBN will deliver to the various public interest premises, such as the University of Melbourne, but also the benefits of being able to download a movie in minutes or having all the family online at once,” he said.*

While making today’s announcement NBN Co also urged local residents to sign up before existing landline phone, ADSL internet and Telstra cable internet services are switched off in the area.**

For Carlton residents, living or working in the area (shown in the map below) the 18 month countdown started on 4 October 2013. Other areas across will have different disconnection dates depending on when the NBN becomes available in each area.

In April 2015 NBN’s new infrastructure is scheduled to replace existing telecommunications infrastructure services.

Residents who want to continue to use their landline phone, ADSL internet or Telstra cable internet services will need to make the switch because these services will be replaced in parts of Carlton with NBN fibre optic cable.

“It’s important to make the switch as some services will no longer work after April 2015,” NBN Co spokesperson Trent Williams said today.

“This includes special equipment, such as medical and security alarms which are connected to the home phone line.**

“Even residents who don’t use the internet will still need to switch to the NBN if they want to keep using their home phone.

“With the countdown ticking, now is the perfect time for Carlton families and businesses to switch over to the NBN leading up to Christmas.

“The feedback from people who’ve already made the switch is that they enjoy having all the family online at once, making high-quality video calls with fewer drop outs, downloading movies in minutes and streaming TV.***

“All you need to do is simply call your preferred phone or internet company to choose from a great range of competitively-priced packages over the NBN,” he said.

 

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Carlton - Ready for Service

Notes to editors

• NBN Co in line with the Government’s interim Statement of Expectations is currently conducting a Strategic Review. The Review will determine how best to provide access to very fast broadband to all Australians as soon, cost-effectively and affordably as possible.
• As part of the Statement of Expectations NBN Co is also working to transition information on the NBN rollout. This process included the revision of the rollout maps on the NBN Co website. The new maps are an accurate picture of the state of the rollout as it stands today. The maps will be updated as the shape of rollout becomes clearer following the completion of the Review.
• People who can order a service and want to make the switch to the NBN should search ‘getting connected’ on the nbnco.com.au website.
• Areas within suburbs will have different switch off dates depending on when the NBN becomes available.
• Home and business owners who will have their landline phone, ADSL internet and Telstra cable internet services disconnected will receive letters from NBN Co with details about how to switch to the NBN.
• Homes and businesses that have an existing medical or security alarm systems should contact their alarm provider and phone company to enquire about their current system and how it will work on the NBN.
• NBN Co has committed to finding a solution to connect complex premises, such as office and apartment blocks. A trial will commence in the New Year.

* Services not replaced by the NBN include TransACT, OptiComm, some Telstra Velocity services and others. For a full list please visit www.nbnco.com.au/switchoff or call us on 1800 687 626. Optus cable internet services may also be switched off on a different date and existing customers will be advised separately.

** Residents and businesses who have special equipment that connects over a phone line, such as a monitored security or fire alarm, EFTPOS machine, lift phone or medical monitoring device, should contact the supplier of the device or monitoring service for further advice on what needs to be done for it to work over the NBN. For more information visit nbnco.com.au/alarms  

*** Your experience including the speeds actually achieved over the NBN depends on some factors outside our control like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how your service provider designs its network.

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