Cricketing legend Brett Lee conducts world’s first coaching clinic over the superfast network

The National Broadband Network was today formally switched on in the Tasmanian capital.

NBN fibre now covers more than 1,800 homes and businesses in South Hobart with work underway to have the network rolled out in its entirety in Tasmania in 2015.

Lalla McKenzie, NBN Co's Community Relations Manager for Tasmania, said:

"It's not just faster speeds but what they can enable that makes the NBN such an exciting prospect for every Tasmanian.

"People can work from home like they would from the office, get all the family online at once and stream TV without stuttering and buffering.*

"Just as importantly, the NBN is helping to foster real competition among phone companies and ISPs in Tasmania, and that helps drive affordable retail prices for families. Every provider has equal access to the network and NBN Co's prices are the same in the city and the bush."

Ten internet service providers are ready to sign up Hobart families and business people to the NBN, with retail prices and packages comparable to current internet plans but offering the prospect of faster speeds and far greater bandwidth^. They are: Telstra, Optus, iPrimus, Spintel, iiNet, Exetel, Commander, Westnet, Internode and MyNetFone.

Superfast bowling over superfast broadband

To showcase the benefits of the NBN, one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, Brett Lee, and Australian international Pat Cummins beamed live into Hobart from today's One Day International against the West Indies at the SCG.

Enabled by a Telstra service, they presided over the world's first NBN-enabled cricket coaching clinic for young players in Hobart who were also joined by local heroes Hobart Hurricanes' Aiden Blizzard and Cripps Roar, and Under 21s Australian cricketer Katelyn Fryett.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland says the fact every home and business will be connected to the NBN via fibre, fixed wireless or satellite provides limitless opportunities for Cricket Australia and other sporting bodies.

"As digital technology evolves so does the delivery of cricket to our fans. The NBN will open up new possibilities for our fans nationwide to watch events when they want, how they want and with whom they want.

"Australian cricket strives to be at the forefront of digital media to make cricket as accessible and attractive as possible and the NBN further supports this strategy, especially as a powerful tool that can help train and select our Ashes champions of tomorrow, no matter where you live or train," Mr Sutherland said.

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Notes to Editors

• Eligible South Hobart residents can access a list of phone or internet service providers in each at area at nbnco.com.au/switch or by calling 1800 OUR NBN (1800 687 626).

• The NBN fibre now covers 14,500 homes and businesses in Tasmania in Deloraine, George Town, St Helens, Smithton & Scottsdale in the north of the state and Kingston Beach, Midway Point, Sorrell, South Hobart & Triabunna in the south.

• Construction has commenced or is complete for more than 70,000 premises across Tasmania. Construction is planned to have commenced or be completed for more than 209,000 homes and businesses across the state by mid-2015. Construction commences when NBN Co issues contract instructions to its contractors for a Fibre Service Access Module (FSAM)

* Your experience depends on some factors outside our control, like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how your service provider designs its network

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

^Retail prices for NBN fibre plans based on 12/1Mbps or 25/5Mbps^ wholesale services are comparable to existing ADSL2+ packages. Source: NBN Co Corporate Plan (published 6 August 2012), analysis based on RSPs published pricing as at June 2012, reflecting circa ~90% of market share.

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