Confirmed: high speed broadband to hit Northern NSW next year.
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NBN Co has just revealed Taree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour areas of NSW will receive high-speed fixed wireless broadband within the year.
The fixed-wireless fibre broadband network will deliver Internet at speeds of “up to” 12Mbps, and plans for higher speeds in the future, NBN Co said last week.
The National Broadband Network fixed wireless service will hit around 15,000 premises in Northern NSW and expected to be switched on “in stages” from mid 2013 – ahead of a large chunk of the country due to have service not until 2015.
“For decades, rural and regional Australia has been left behind when it comes to telecommunications,” NBN Co General Manger of External Relations Trent Williams said today.
NBN Co’s plan to deliver high speed broadband to every Australian using one of three technologies – fibre, fixed wireless and satellite – aims to change that.
Communities which are slated for fixed wireless cover seven local government areas.
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Places that can’t be served by fixed wireless will receive NBN Co’s Satellite service.
“To put 12Mbps into perspective, people in the fixed wireless area who are currently on dial-up will receive speeds up to 150 times faster, on ABG satellite up to 12 times faster and ADSL 1 up to eight times faster,” said Williams.
NBN Co says customers can a “big improvement” to their Internet speed, and the reliability of the connection.
“This announcement is tremendous news for these communities, many of which have little or no access to high-speed broadband,” Williams added.
It also means telehealth consultations, video conferencing, interactive lessons and live collaboration with teachers and students here and abroad can “become a reality.”
Unlike a mobile wireless service where speeds can be affected by the number of people in the area, NBN Co’s fixed wireless network is engineered to deliver services to a fixed number of premises within a coverage area.
