Image source: NBN Co
Mount Beauty and Tawonga South residents are set to benefit from ultrafast broadband, with NBN Co to provide the towns with upgraded Fibre to the Premises.
The announcement was made by Minister for Regional Communications and Nationals Senator for Victoria The Hon Bridget McKenzie at the Wangaratta Digital Hub business breakfast on Wednesday morning.
Dialling in from Parliament House in Canberra, Minister McKenzie also spoke to local businesses to hear more about NBN Co’s Wangaratta Business Fibre Zone. This follows the NBN Co’s announcement last September that Wangaratta would be one of almost 300 Business Fibre Zones to be rolled out across a fixed line footprint.
Minister McKenzie said these latest upgrades at Mount Beauty and Tawonga South are in addition to Wangaratta and Myrtleford already receiving upgraded Fibre to the Premises.
“I am pleased to announce that Mount Beauty and Tawonga South will be upgraded to Fibre to the Premises before the end of 2023, as will Wangaratta and Myrtleford,” Minister McKenzie said.
“This is fantastic news for our region. The commencement of these latest works by NBN Co will create jobs for our community and support local businesses by allowing them to take advantage of the benefits of ultrafast broadband.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of internet connectivity, whether it’s for work, leisure or checking in with a loved one. In 2021, there is not a lot that can be done without fast reliable broadband.
Minister McKenzie said NBN Co would now begin designing the network, with the company to update www.nbnco.com.au with ready to connect dates over the coming months.
“Many criticised our government’s decision to direct NBN to roll-out a mix of technologies across the fixed line footprint, however, as a result, they have been able to connect Australians many years quicker than under Labor’s full fibre roll-out.
“The Liberal and Nationals Government’s decision was wholeheartedly vindicated over the past 18 months as NBN completed the network roll-out, which has in turn meant we could support Australians to work and study from home throughout this global pandemic.
“Now with almost 12 million homes and business able to connect to the network, NBN will use its own resources to reinvest into upgrading the network, and in doing so deliver a first class fibre based network without burdening the tax payers for further assistance.
“Whether its businesses in Wangaratta, once stuck on slow copper connections but now able to order the same fibre connection at $0 build cost, for the same monthly prices that a business in Melbourne’s CBD levels the playing field between city and country.
“No longer do regional businesses have to make do with second rate infrastructure, while paying through the nose for the privilege of accessing it.”
In total, NBN Co’s commitment is to make speeds of up to 1 Gbps available to around 8 million premises, or up to 75 per cent of homes and businesses in the fixed line network footprint, by 2023.
For more information on the NBN, go to www.nbnco.com.au