• NBN Co doubles wholesale internet speeds for rural and remote Australians
• New 25 Mbps speed tier to be available for fixed-wireless and satellite networks to help end tyranny of distance
• NBN Fixed-Wireless customers to benefit from as early as June

 

NBN Co today unveiled plans to bring even faster internet to the bush by offering a new speed tier doubling the wholesale broadband speeds forrural and remote Australia.

More than half a million homes, farms and businesses eligible to receive the NBN's Fixed-Wireless and Long Term Satellite services will be able to order wholesale download speeds of up to 25 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps* from their internet service provider.

The faster speed tier is planned to be available over the Fixed Wireless network as early as June[i]. The Long Term Satellite Service is scheduled to launch in 2015.

In a boost to rural communities, the new speed tier will make wholesale upload speeds available that are up to five times faster than those offered to Satellite and Fixed Wireless users over the NBN today (1 Mbps)*.

It will also enable the delivery of wholesale download speeds that are double those currently available over the Fixed-Wireless service (12 Mbps) and more than a threefold increase in wholesale download speeds compared to today's Interim Satellite Service (currently 6 Mbps). See chart below.

In addition, the wholesale prices for internet service providers who retail NBN packages to rural broadband users will be pegged at the same rate as they are for fibre users in the cities: $27 per month for the 25/5Mbps service and $24 for the 12/1Mbps service respectively. NBN Co has already committed to reducing wholesale broadband prices in real terms.

NBN Co Chief Executive Mike Quigley said: "Every home and business in Australia - from the outback to the city - will have access to fast internet at speeds people in the city take for granted.

"That will give people in the most isolated parts of the country access to economic and social opportunities that the rest of the country takes for granted. For instance, faster speeds will allow people in regional communities to work from home like they would from the office, access video-based health services and make high-quality video calls to family and friends.

"Just as importantly, the NBN is helping to foster real competition, and that drives affordable prices for consumers. Every provider has equal access to the network and NBN Co's prices are the same in the city and the bush."

The rollout of the Fixed-Wireless and Long-Term Satellite services aim to cover around seven per cent of the nation's premises. Both are on track to be substantially completed by the end of 2015. The rollout of the optical fibre network is scheduled to be completed by 2021.

 

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Rhonda Griffin
Mobile: 0428 134 401
Email: rhondagriffin@nbnco.com.au

Press Office
02 9213 2338

 

NBN services over the Fixed Wireless and Satellite networks for regional and remote Australians

	Wholesale speed tiers	Wholesale Access Price per month	Available from
Interim Satellite	6/1 Mbps	$24	July 2011
Long Term Satellite	12/1 Mbps	$24	2015
	25/5 Mbps	$27	2015
Fixed Wireless	12/1 Mbps	$24	early 2012
	25/5 Mbps	$27	June 2013

 

Notes to Editors

• The Fixed-Wireless service uses the same 4G technology currently being rolled out for mobile networks. However unlike mobile networks where the number of users in the cell varies, and performance changes depending on the distance from the base station, the NBN Co service is designed to serve a fixed number of premises in an area.
• 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 receive NBN Co's Long Term Satellite service.
• In fixed wireless areas copper phone lines will remain in place as an option to provide a telephone service.
• The National Broadband Network is designed to provide high-speed broadband access to 100% of premises - approximately 93% of premises by fibre, and the remaining seven per cent via Fixed-Wireless or Satellite.
• NBN Co plans to install fibre in towns of 1000 premises or more, or to some towns with as few as 500 premises where the town is located on an NBN fibre transit link.
• NBN Co's Fixed-Wireless and Satellite networks will serve communities with low population density where it is impractical or uneconomical to roll out fibre optic cable.
• A standard installation of network equipment will be free of charge.

* NBN Co is designing the NBN to be capable of delivering these speeds to NBN Co's wholesale customers (internet service providers). Speeds achieved and applications received by retail customers will depend on a number of factors including the quality of their equipment and in-premises connection, the broadband plans offered by their service provider and how their service provider designs its network to cater for multiple end users.

 

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[i] NBN Co expects to make the new speed tier available on the Fixed-Wireless service from June 2013 following appropriate notification to internet service providers and an update to the company's ordering processes.