Clarification (27/02/2014): for the Interim Satellite Service, the reference in this media release to Premises Passed or coverage is a reference to the number of premises within the spot beam of the satellite not the capacity of the Interim Satellite Service. The capacity of the Interim Satellite Service is 48,000 end-users. Eligible end-users means end-user premises which are within the Satellite Service footprint and which may have been able to meet the qualifying criteria for the Interim Satellite Service (if they applied). It is not a reference to the capacity of the Interim Satellite Service. 

The number of homes and businesses using the National Broadband Network increased from 13,600 in June 2012 to 34,500 at the end of December 2012, according to year-end figures released today by NBN Co.

The figures encompass end users across the fibre, fixed-wireless and satellite services.

Of these, 10,400 were connected via fibre in both built-up areas (“Brownfields”) and new developments (“Greenfields”). The number of active Greenfields premises increased from 500 in June 2012 to 3,800 in December 2012.

Fibre has now passed 46,100 premises in Brownfield areas and 26,300 lots/premises in Greenfield estates.

The company‟s Corporate Plan has set a target of 286,000 Brownfields premises passed and 44,000 Brownfields premises activated by the end of June 2013.

NBN Co CEO, Mike Quigley, said: “The results reflect progress in the early stages of the rollout, and are what we would expect given the time and work necessary to put in place the contracts and agreements needed to get to this point of execution.

“As can be seen by our targets, this rollout is not a linear progression, but a rapid ramp-up. We are targeting to pass more premises in the final quarter of the financial year than we will have passed in the entire project up to the beginning of that quarter. Additional construction resources will be added over the coming months to help achieve these targets.

“We will continue to work very closely with our construction partners - Syntheo (WA, NT, SA); Transfield (Vic); Silcar (NSW, QLD, ACT); and Visionstream (Tas) - to deliver the June 2013 targets.”

The release of the six-monthly figures follows the announcement earlier this month that NBN Co had exceeded its Corporate Plan target for work commenced or completed in Brownfield fibre areas covering 758,000 homes and businesses by the end of 2012. Construction was commenced or completed for 784,600 premises by end December 2012.

Key metrics appear over the page.

Key NBN metrics^

	June 2011	June 2012		Dec 2012		June 2013
Construction commenced or completed
	29,600	305,000		784,600		1,220,000
Premises/lots passed
Brownfield	18,000	29,000		46,100		286,000
Greenfield	-	10,000		26,300		55,000
Fixed wireless		9,000		17,300		320,000
Satellite*	165,000	165,000		250,000
Total	183,000	213,000		339,700		661,000
Premises activated
Brownfield	600	3,400		6,600		44,000
Greenfield	-	500		3,800		10,000
Fixed wireless	-	100		1,000		37,700
Satellite	200	9,600		23,100
Total	800	13,600		34,500		91,700

^rounded up to the nearest '00

*coverage indicates estimated number of eligible end-users

Actual	Target

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Rhonda Griffin
Phone: 02 9927 4015
Mobile: 0428 134 401


Notes to Editors

• Construction commences when NBN Co hands over network designs to the construction company and issues contract instructions. At this point the contractor receives a mobilisation payment for the commencement of work in that Fibre Service Access Module (FSAM).
• Work takes place in a number of phases, beginning with detailed design, survey and physical inspection of pit-and-pipe infrastructure to assess its condition and the availability of space for additional fibre.
• Each FSAM covers on average 2000 to 3000 premises. The month after contract instructions are issued, NBN Co releases FSAM maps on its website giving more detailed information about the streets covered.
• This is followed by a period of infrastructure remediation, where necessary, then rollout of the passive network, installation of the active network, testing and switch on.
• The Government's objective is for NBN Co to rollout fibre optic broadband, designed to offer its Retail Service Provider customers wholesale download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second*, to 93 per cent of Australian premises by June 2021.
• The remaining premises are expected to receive high-speed broadband via fixed-wireless or satellite, with the rollout of both services expected to be complete by 2015.
• NBN Co is a wholesale company, and those wishing to switch their phone and internet to the National Broadband Network need to speak to their telephone or internet service provider. These are listed at www.nbnco.com.au/serviceproviders
• For more information visit www.nbnco.com.au

* NBN Co is designing the NBN to be capable of delivering these speeds to NBN Co's wholesale customers (telephone and internet service providers). Speeds actually achieved by retail customers (end users) 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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