The National Broadband Network (NBN) is an essential infrastructure project and economic reform that will improve the telecommunications landscape in Australia, support business and e-commerce, health care and education, and drive much needed competition in the industry through equal wholesale terms.

A boost to GDP and productivity are key benefits of this nation building project.

The ALP has started the difficult but necessary work of upgrading our telecommunications network by forming NBN Co, a government enterprise like Australia Post that will design, build and operate a new super-fast fibre network reaching 93 per cent of Australians. Satellite and wireless technologies will be used to connect the other 7%.

Laying new fibre cable

Fibre cable will replace the ageing copper network owned by Telstra, following a deal struck in late June to lease their pits, pipes and exchanges to reduce costs and build time. The laying of fibre will initially enable up to 100mbps download and 40mbps upload connection speeds, and later up to 1gbps, as researchers continue to innovate and boost transfer rates utilising this seemingly future-proof technology.

Many broadband experiences today

Despite some industry competition in concentrated parts of metropolitan Australia today, regional areas and those inner and outer suburbs beholden to a monopoly, nor seen as lucrative markets, are frustrated and limited by patchy telecommunications infrastructure. Many households and businesses live with high prices, slow speeds and in some instances poor access to broadband.

Gungahlin residents know this all too well, RIM infrastructure inhibits bandwidth and service availability into most homes.

ACT rollout to start in Gungahlin

As a second release site of the NBN, families and businesses in Gungahlin welcomed more news from a community meeting held in June. Representatives from NBN Co outlined that preparations were being made for the fibre rollout in Gungahlin. Architects had already mapped a high level design.

Importantly advocates, like Senator Kate Lundy who attended, learnt that NBN Co plans to progressively build the network from Gungahlin into other parts of the ACT.

Latest NBN news

NBN Co recently announced an agreement with Silcar Pty Ltd to undertake the first large scale deployment of the national network. This was welcomed by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, who said that this is good news for the people of Gungahlin and indeed the Territory.

With the backdrop of our knowledge economy, the highest internet and computer usage rates in the country, and a technically savvy population, I think what we will see the vision of the NBN materialise very quickly in Canberra, The Chief Minister said.

The ACT Government is working collaboratively with NBN Co on the Network rollout in the ACT. An across agency taskforce has been established and it is expected that an announcement on the first phase rollout footprint for Gungahlin will be made in the second half of 2011.

References

NBN rolling out in Gungahlin: http://www.katelundy.com.au/2011/06/16/nbn-rolling-out-in-gungahlin/

ACT at front end of NBN rollout: http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=10754

New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory: http://www.nbnco.com.au/our-network/maps/nsw_act.html