NBN broadband being delivered already to areas around Ballarat will be even faster following an upgrade to NBN’s fixed wireless and satellite services, Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, announced today.
Ms King said many areas around Ballarat were already being provided with an NBN fast broadband service through fixed wireless and others would eventually be serviced by satellite.
“This upgrade means those people will all get even faster broadband, giving them better online access for a range of important services and keeping them in touch with the region the nation and the world.”
The NBN’s fixed wireless and long term satellite services will be upgraded to provide broadband speeds of 25 megabits per second download and 5 megabits per second upload (25/5 Mbps).
“This means that people coming online in the NBN fixed wireless roll out underway around Ballarat will be able to access significantly faster speeds than what is available now through ADSL services,” Ms King said.
“This upgrade represents a doubling of speeds for the NBN’s fixed wireless and satellite services.
“The great thing is that it will mean better access to education and health services for residents across the region, as well as greater opportunities for small businesses and agriculture. It will allow high-quality video conferencing, making it easier to work remotely.
“For too long, people living in regional and rural Australia have had to put up with slow, unreliable internet services—if they could get a connection at all.
“The Government’s investment in the NBN means all Australians, no matter where they live, will have access to faster broadband services. Like water and electricity, the Gillard Government sees fast broadband as an essential utility that should be made available to all Australians.
“The price for customers for the 25/5 Mbps service on fixed wireless and satellite will be the same as that charged for 25/5 Mbps fibre services at around $40 per month.
“The Government is delivering on its commitment of uniform national wholesale pricing for broadband services. This means people living in Ballarat and region will pay the same prices for NBN services as people in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.”
The 25/5 Mbps service will be available by mid-2013 on the fixed wireless network and from the start of operation of the long term satellite service in 2015.
For more information about the NBN rollout visit www.nbnco.com.au/rollout.