NBN has launched its commercial fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) product as it looks to ramp-up its rollout of the national broadband network.Upon the launch of FTTN today, NBN stated deployment of the technology will see the broadband network rolled out at faster pace than fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), adding that “very high speeds can still be achieved”.
NBN stated that it expects a simpler installation will see it able to activate end users “much faster than on other broadband technologies”.
NBN aims to have 500,000 FTTN premises ready for service by mid-2016 and 3.7 million by mid-2018, at which time it states more than 1.6 million homes are expected to be connected to the NBN network by FTTN technology.
The FTTN rollout has commenced in Belmont, NSW.
NBN has signed wholesale broadband agreements with over 20 retail service providers, including Telstra, Optus, Optus Wholesale, Exetel, TPG, iiNet, AAPT, SkyMesh, Harbour ISP and M2 Group (Dodo, iPrimus, Commander) to sell FTTN services.
“Overseas experience in markets like the UK and Germany has proven the value of FTTN in delivering fast broadband services to millions of premises both quickly and cost-effectively,” Tony Cross, NBN chief architect, commented.
“Our own FTTN end-user trials have been hugely encouraging in showing that FTTN can deliver great speeds to Australians, with most end-users on the trial getting wholesale speeds of 100 Mbps (download) and 40 Mbps (upload).”
