As the Bathurst region is gradually switched onto the National Broadband Network (nbn), more and more premises are gaining access to faster internet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, Peak Connect managing director Jeff Peak is concerned that many Bathurst residents are not being given the full story when it comes to the nbn.
“Callers are ringing up people and telling them they need to make the switch over now. That’s not correct,” he said.
“If you don’t know the people ringing up, just hang up and don’t do business. Everyone has 18 months to swap over to the nbn. Your service provider will contact you when the time is right to make the swap over.
“If you leave it to the last minute, there is a chance you might lose your phone number but that’s in 18 months’ time. There’s a lot of fear tactics by companies, saying that will happen straight away.”
While customers can make the switch to the nbn from day one, Mr Peak said there is no rush.
“If you’re happy with your ADSL plan now, wait a few months before you switch over,” he said.
“If your provider says you can save money, still make sure you shop around.”
Historically, internet speeds in Australia were determined by how far away a premises was from the internet exchange.
With the nbn utilising fibre optic cables, internet speed is now affected by the distance from the premises to the node, which dramatically increases the speed of the internet.
nbn offers different speed packages, each with a different download speed limit and an upload speed limit.
The 12/1 megabit speed package – providing 12 megabits of download speed and one megabit of upload speed – is one comparable to an average ADSL2+ connection.
Other speed packages include 25/5 megabits, 50/20 megabits and 100/40 megabits.
The 100/40 megabits package has the potential for movies to be downloaded off iTunes in minutes.
Areas of West Bathurst, Windradyne, Robin Hill, Kelso, Raglan, White Rock and Bathurst have already been switched onto the nbn.
Bathurst is expected to be completely switched on by August 1.