BATHURST’S big switch onto the National Broadband Network (nbn) is quickly becoming a reality, as 4700 premises were activated and given access to the new internet network on Friday morning.
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Premises in parts of Kelso, Robin Hill, Mitchell and Trinity Heights will now have access to the fast internet nbn provides.
Telstra Northern NSW area manager Michael Marom said it was an “exciting” day for Bathurst.
“4700 premises will be turned on and made available from [Friday] and then another 5000 following by the end of June,” Mr Marom said.
“Also, another 5000 by the end of August, so 15,000 in total.
“nbn joins Parkes, Dubbo and Orange and others parts of western NSW with nbn high speed broadband.
“It’s a lot faster and it depends on what you need.
“So if you’re a business and you need a lot of bandwidth, you’re going to have 100 megabits which will allow you to do uploads and downloads of really big files and streaming.”
In 2006, the then opposition Labor Party promised, if they were elected, to construct a super fast national broadband network.
Planning began in 2007 when the Labor Party won the federal election.
The nbn can provide from five to 100 megabits per second, with 25 megabit download rates and 5 megabit upload rates.
Premises that are not connected to the nbn commonly have either ADSL2+ or ADSL1.
More than 4700 premises switched onto nbn across Bathurst.
The nbn announcement was made at Trinity Heights Shopping Centre on Friday morning.
Premises will have a period of 18 months to be switched over to the nbn, but the switch is not automatic.
Consumers can be notified by email, by visiting the nbn website, when their premises is connected.
Mr Marom encourages people to check their options and look at different plans that are available before making the switch.
Bathurst Business Chamber vise president Steve Semmers said it was “fantastic” that the switch has begun.
“We’ve been waiting a long time. We’re very excited about it and we know it’s going to open up a lot of opportunities for businesses in the region,” he said.
“It also means now that we’re able to have a level playing field with our city cousins and we’re looking forward to not only competing locally, but nationally and globally.
“We can’t wait until it begins to roll out and as soon as it gets to where my office is, we’ll be on it straight away.”
