Locals welcome benefits of high-speed broadband in Wellington Shire

Farms, homes and businesses across parts of 17 communities can now switch to the National Broadband Network.

NBN Co’s fixed-wireless network is now available to around 1,450 families and businesses in parts of the following communities:

Airly	Maffra (surrounds)	Stratford
Bundalaguah	Newry	The Heart
Cobains	Pearsondale	Tinamba
Fulham	Riverslea	Tinamba West
Longford	Sale (surrounds)	Wurruk
Longford North	Stradbroke

 

NBN Co spokesperson Tony Gibbs said fixed-wireless services will mean fast broadband is available for farms, residents and businesses in the area.

“We’re bringing high speed broadband to the bush. These fixed-wireless services are designed to deliver internet speeds and bandwidth that many in the big cities take for granted today,” Mr Gibbs said.

“The NBN will allow all the family to be online at once, to make high-quality video calls with fewer drop outs and download movies quickly, with everyone enjoying the same fast speeds,” he said.*

Tinamba Hotel owner Damien Gannon today demonstrated how his NBN Fixed Wireless connection is opening up new possibilities for the way he runs his hospitality venue.

“The speed and reliability that we get from the NBN helps us to streamline our business practices. We can now scan and send documents, undertake all stock ordering, banking and administration online in minutes and secondly, improving efficiency and saving valuable time, helping us provide a better service to our patrons,” Mr Gannon said.*

“The NBN has also allowed us to provide a free Wi-Fi service to our customers and even when we have multiple users online at once, you can still notice the increase in speeds,” he said.

NBN Co’s fixed-wireless service offers wholesale download speeds of up to 25 megabits per second and wholesale upload speeds of up to 5 megabits per second to retail service providers.*

NBN Co also plans to deliver these wholesale speeds over satellite in rural and remote areas in 2015 when its Long Term Satellite Service is scheduled for launch.

NBN Co encourages residents in parts of Wellington Shire to visit the website to see if their home or business is included. Visit NBN Co’s interactive map at www.nbnco.com.au/rollout/rollout-map.

Families and businesses in the region who want to sign up should call their preferred local telephone and internet company to order a service today http://www.nbnco.com.au/get-an-nbn-connection/certified-service-providers.html

Additionally, further great news for the Gippsland region, NBN Co expects to switch on more high-speed Fixed Wireless areas in early 2014 in parts of the Bass Coast, La Trobe Valley and South Gippsland local government areas.

 

Media enquiries

Andy Lee

Mobile: 0417 757 958

 

Notes to editors

• The six facility sites in the region housing infrastructure are at Longford, Longford North, Maffra, Montgomery, Newry and Sale.
• NBN Co’s fixed wireless and satellite networks are planned to serve communities with low population density where it is impractical or uneconomical to roll out fixed line technologies.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 may be able to receive NBN Co’s long term satellite service scheduled to be launched in 2015.  Visit www.nbnco.com.au/satellite for more information.
• A standard installation of network equipment is currently free of charge.  Remember to ask your preferred service provider if they have any other fees.
• In fixed wireless areas copper phone lines will remain in place to provide a telephone service.
• For more information, visit nbnco.com.au

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