NBN Information
What is the National Broadband Network (NBN)?
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is designed to provide high speed broadband access to 100 per cent of Australian premises. The NBN is a nation-building program with the potential to lift Australia's productivity and will provide a broadband network to serve Australia for decades to come.
Fibre optic cabling is expected to cover 93 per cent of Australian homes, schools and businesses, but to reach everyone in our vast country, high-speed fixed wireless and satellite services will be used for around seven per cent of premises. These fixed wireless and satellite technologies represent a significant improvement over services currently available to many Australians living in regional and remote communities.
How reliable?
Where the previous copper and wireless infrastructure failed the NBN aims to improve. As with any network Mother Nature can easily destroy it, wireless services have always been susceptible to rain, wind, and other factors and flooding has been known to wipe out copper networks entirely for weeks and even months. But fibre is different! Fibre transmits data without an electric current so if its cables become submerged in water it can still operate, the weaknesses in fibre are at the end points, in your home and at the source, but the NBNCo have kept this in mind while developing the network and have used local reports to better position equipment in the event of disasters, you too should aim to raise your equipment as high as practically possible so that in the event of disaster your telephone and broadband equipment remain usable.
Who is it for?
Everyone! The network is being built for absolutely all users. NBNCo's objective is to service 93% of Australia by fibre optic cable and the remaining 7% will be connected through use of satellites and fixed wireless. This level of coverage could not have been accomplished if the work were sourced to a private sector as providing high speed access to low demand areas just wouldn't be as profitable, NBNCo are against that and aim to provide all Australian's with equal opportunity for high speed access to medical assistance, education and the entire world wide web.
Speed and Capacity.
The speed and capacity of this developing network is truly astonishing. Such vast improvements in capacity and speed will raise our average households speeds from their current average of 8Mbps through the roof, enhancing our ability to communicate and connect to the world.
When does it get here?
The 3 Year roll out has already begun and a huge portion of users will be connected by 2014. For many it is already available, so you should check using our service qualification and register your interest using our submission form. Even if you are not in coverage yet, we will retain your interest and contact you when we receive notification your address is serviceable.
What the NBN looks like
The National Broadband Network is being constructed using both underground and overhead options. It will depend on where you live as to whether you will have an underground or overhead network connected in your street. Initially, it will take between 2-4 days for field survey and planning for the network. This is where the field design team will gather the information needed to construct the network specifically for your street.
Building the underground option for the NBN will take around 10 days per street. The overhead option will not take as long to construct (3 days) as it will utilise existing power poles - as illustrated in the graphic below.
