ON ITS WAY: NBN Co’s Tony Gibbs with some of the equipment households on the outskirts of Bathurst will need to obtain high speed fixed wireless broadband once the necessary infrastructure is in place. Photo: BRIAN WOOD
NBN Co, the company building Australia’s national broadband network, has announced that Bathurst’s
outlying villages could get high speed fixed wireless broadband as early as the end of next year.
As the National Broadband Network Discovery Truck sets up shop outside Bathurst Courthouse today it will be an opportunity for those who are interested in fixed wireless broadband to talk to staff about what is available to them.
High speed broadband will ultimately be delivered to every Australian home and business using one of three technologies – fibre, fixed wireless and satellite.
Community relations adviser Tony Gibbs said NBN Co will now start working with Bathurst Regional Council to identify appropriate locations for fixed wireless network infrastructure, including the necessary poles with fixed antennae.
He said for decades, rural and regional Australia had been left behind when it came to telecommunications.
“Australia ranks very highly in terms of the number of users but access to high speed broadband has been limited. NBN Co’s plan aims to change that,” he said.
“Subject to final radio frequency planning and other approvals, the fixed wireless network plans to cover up to 25,000 premises across 15 councils. It is expected facilities will start to be switched on in stages from around mid to late 2013.”
He said faster, more reliable internet “aims to deliver speeds and services that city people take for granted”.
“It will also mean telehealth consultations, video conferencing, interactive lessons and live
collaboration with teachers and students here and abroad can become a reality,” he said.
NBN Co’s fixed wireless network is designed to offer internet service providers with wholesale access speeds of up to 12Mbps. Higher speeds should become available in the future.
Mr Gibbs said unlike a mobile wireless service, where speeds can be affected by the number of people moving into and out of the area, NBN Co’s fixed wireless network is engineered to deliver services to a fixed number of premises.
“The greatest features will be speed and reliability,” he said.
“This will be of particular benefit when downloading movies, using skype and uploading information,” he said.
Bathurst’s urban area will be serviced by fibre optic cable which will not be introduced for at least three years.