A major project milestone was reached yesterday with an additional 2,700 premises in Ballarat switching onto National Broadband Network (NBN) fibre.
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King said she was pleased to see NBN fibre continuing to roll out in Ballarat with 12,000 homes and businesses in the Ballarat area now connected to the network.
“This switch-on is fantastic news for local residents who can now experience what fast, reliable broadband has to offer,” Ms King said.
“As Ballarat is at the forefront of the NBN rollout – local business will have a competitive advantage.
“I’m also pleased to see that the Government has responded to community pressure and reversed its decision to deny 2,400 premises in Golden Point, Mount Pleasant, Canadian and Bakery Hill from receiving fibre-to-the-home broadband by restoring Labor’s pre-election rollout plans.”
Ms King said it was now up to the Abbott Government to come to their senses by continuing the rollout of fibre-to-the-home broadband across all of Ballarat.
“The current policy of the Abbott Government still leaves thousands of residents in our community who are facing a digital-divide,” Ms King said.
“Without a further change of heart by this Government, residents and businesses in these areas will be left with one of two choices: battle on using out-dated copper, or fork out up to $5,000 to have fibre connected to their home or business.
“Local residents shouldn’t be left with second-rate technology because of poor government policy and postcode.”