NBN delivers broadband boost to regional and rural Australia 

In a boost to the availability of broadband in the bush, the number of premises covered by the National Broadband Network’s (NBN) fixed wireless service has risen nearly fourfold over the past 12 months to 106,000 homes, farms and businesses. 

The figure includes 20,000 premises in rural and regional areas across the country where the NBN is newly available, including Humpty Doo, Northern Territory and parts of the Mid North Coast, NSW (see table below). 

According to the latest figures from NBN Co, the fixed wireless service is available to 106,000 premises – up from 27,250 premises on 30 June 2013.* 

Over the same period there has also been a sevenfold increase in the number of families and businesses using the service – rising from 1,870 premises a year ago to 16,000 premises today. The sharp increase in users coincides with the addition to the fixed wireless product suite a year ago of the higher 25 megabits per second wholesale speed tier. 

NBN Co Chief Operating Officer, Greg Adcock said: 

“It’s clear from these figures that people outside the major cities want better broadband. 

“We’ve put a significant focus on accelerating rollout of NBN Co’s fixed wireless service to rural and regional Australia. That allows people in these communities to take advantage of the economic and social opportunities that the rest of the country takes for granted.” 

Federation University Australia Centre Director, Helen Thompson said: 

“Surpassing 100,000 premises covered is a significant milestone for NBN Co but it’s even more significant for regional Australia which has had poor access to internet services for years. 

“Not only will it close the digital divide between city and country, fast broadband will enable rural businesses to flourish and regional economies to grow and attract further wealth and investment.” 

NBN Co’s fixed wireless service offers wholesale download speeds of up to 25 megabits per second and wholesale upload speeds of up to five megabits per second to telephone and internet service providers.** 

Residents are encouraged to visit www.nbnco.com.au/rollout/rollout-map to find out if their premise is included in the coverage footprint and follow the three step guide to connecting to the NBN.*** 

Media enquiries 

Grant Thomas 

Phone: 02 8918 5853 

Mobile: 0417 554 787 

NBN Co Media Hotline: 02 9927 4200 

Notes to editors 

NBN Co fixed wireless sites ready for service in June 2014 

NSW Mid-North Coast · Harrington (surrounds) · Lansdowne · Ghinni Ghinni · Upper Lansdowne · Johns River · Kendall North · Coomba Park (surrounds) · Darawank · Nabiac · Tallwoods Village · Minimbah · Dyers Crossing · Firefly · Krambach · Coolongolook · Koorainghat · Gloucester South (Surrounds) New England · Glen Innes (surrounds) · Piallamore · Tenterfield (surrounds) North West Slopes · Quirindi (surrounds) Central West · Spring Creek · Spring Hill Town

VIC Grampians · Linton · Mount Helen (surrounds) · Dunolly (surrounds) Loddon Mallee · Bendigo South (surrounds) · Emu Creek · Mandurang South · Sedgwick North East · Avenel · Creighton · Violet Town · Toolamba · Murchison North · Murchison South · Ardmona Gippsland · Archies Creek · Yanakie

QLD Darling Downs · Wyreema (surrounds) · Yarraman (surrounds) North Queensland · Balberra · Habana · Munbura South Burnett · Blackbutt (surrounds) · Ellesmere · Kingaroy (surrounds) · Kumbia · Taabinga · Coolabunia · Maidenwell · Booie East (surrounds)

WA   South West · Brunswick (surrounds) · Burekup · Dardanup · Capel (surrounds) · Stratham

TAS   Northern Tasmania · Doctors Rocks · Abbotsham · Sprent · Acacia Hills · Forthside · Spreyton · Tarleton · Sassafras · West Pine · Wesley Vale · Stanley · Wynyard West (surrounds) · Boat Harbour · Sisters Beach · Moorleah · Boat Harbour Beach · Ellendale · Hamilton · Ouse · Rosegarland · Westerway

NT   Darwin · Humpty Doo · Humpty Doo East

***Three-Step Guide to connecting to NBN Fixed Wireless

Step 1: Order a service

Contact your preferred telephone company or internet service provider to book-in a signal quality test.  A full list of services providers can be found at www.nbnco.com.au/serviceproviders.

Step 2: Installation

If your premise can receive a good quality fixed wireless signal, NBN Co will install and test an Outdoor Antenna on your roof and a Connection Box inside your home – both are currently free of charge.

Step 3: Connect to the NBN

Once tested, residents just connect their service provider’s modem to the internal NBN Connection Box to begin experiencing the many benefits of fast broadband.  For further details on connecting to the NBN fixed wireless network, visit: http://www.nbnco.com.au/get-an-nbn-connection/connect-fixed-wireless.html.

·       NBN Co’s fixed wireless facilities are designed to service less densely populated communities across Australia such as small towns and villages and the outer surrounds of major townships.

·       End user experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the NBN, depends on some factors outside NBN Co’s control like equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how the end user’s service provider designs its network.

·       Fixed wireless services are delivered by radio communications via antennas that transmit a signal direct to a small outdoor antenna on your home or business.

·       Before the network equipment is installed a service validation test will be carried out. Those premises which are unable to be served by fixed wireless will be able to receive NBN Co’s long term satellite service after it becomes available. Visit www.nbnco.com.au/satellite for more information.

·       In fixed wireless areas copper phone lines will remain in place to provide a landline telephone service, if the end user chooses to use it.

·       A standard installation of NBN equipment is currently free of charge. Residents should ask their preferred service provider if they have any other fees. 

 

* NBN Co weekly metric

** NBN Co’s designing the NBN to provide these speeds to its wholesale customers, telephone and internet service providers. End user experience including the speeds actually achieved over the NBN depends on some factors outside NBN Co’s control like equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how the end user’s service provider designs its network.