What is the National Broadband Network?
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is the wholesale data network being construction by NBN Co. The network will use a combination of technologies which include fibre to the premises (FTTP), Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fixed Wireless Broadband and Satellite Broadband technologies to provide connections up to one gigabit per second to premises in Australia.
The term NBN and High Speed Broadband are terms loosely used to describe the ‘new world’ high speed internet which is made up of a web of many interconnected networks which is continuously evolving. These technologies are delivered by several wholesale internet / data providers in Australia including NBN Co.. NBN Co. provide one network which forms part of the larger ‘web’. The entire network in Australia includes licenced telecommunications carriers, satellite providers, mobile broadband providers, retail service providers, international network carriers and other network providers.
National Information Packs (NBN)
NBN Guide for Consumers Australian Customer Action Group (ACCAN)
Who is NBN Co.?
www.nbnco.com.au/index.html
NBN Co was created on 9 April 2009 as a wholly-owned Commonwealth company that has been prescribed as a Government Business Enterprise (GBE) and is represented by "Shareholder Ministers” being the Minister for Communications and Minister of Finance.
NBN Co’s goal is to deliver Australia's first national wholesale-only, open access broadband network to all Australians, regardless of where they live.
NBN Co. intends to achieve this goal by:
- Designing and installing the NBN
- Connecting 93% of homes, schools and workplaces in Australia through a mixture of fixed wired solutions
- Connecting 7% of homes, schools and workplaces in Australia with Fixed Wireless Broadband and Satellite Broadband
- NBN Co will wholesale its network to retail service providers (RSP), who will then sell Internet access and other services to consumers (eg. telephone).
The network is estimated to cost $35.9 billion over its 10 year construction, including an Australian Government investment of $27.5 billion.
Broadband Explained
Tony Eyers, a telecoms training provider from TekTel, has created a website reference "Broadband Explained - A Simple Explanation of the National Broadband Network - the NBN" which explains the NBN to a lay audience, via 6 short videos. The video can be accessed from www.broadbandexplained.com.
High Speed Broadband in the Northern Rivers
Regional Development Australia - Northern Rivers - Making connections: considering the impact of high speed broadband in the Northern Rivers (846kB PDF)
Regional Development Australia - Northern Rivers launched on 27 April 2012 a 49 page report of the findings of a survey of 277 businesses in the region’s ‘critical industries’, i.e. creative industries, health and aged care, education and financial sectors.
Key Findings:
- Nearly all the businesses surveyed use the internet for correspondence by email (99%), research and information gathering (99%) and banking (85%).
- While 94% placed orders via the internet, only 62% received orders from their customers online.
- 80% of businesses surveyed had a website, which is twice the national average across all businesses (Source ABC, 2010).
- Nearly all of the businesses with a website offer information about their business (98.2%) and a most also include information about their goods and services (87.2%).
- The creative industries are more optimistic than those in the other sectors that high speed broadband will improve their productivity (78%), revenue (52%) and profitability (55%).
- Those in education are the most positive that high speed broadband will enable them to increase their product and business differentiation (48%) with increased cost control (34%) an added bonus.
- Nearly three quarters of all businesses surveyed are using ADSL or ADSL2+, but one in two (49.8%) experienced internet problems in the last year, ranging from slow speeds (76%), connection drop outs (73%) and insufficient download/upload bandwidth (48%)
- The majority of respondents are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the NBN and would appreciate more information from the Government on how to optimise high speed broadband technology to support their business.
Coverage of the NBN
Visit www.nbnco.com.au/rollout and enter your address to see the map and find out the latest details about when the NBN is coming to your area.
NBN National Coverage Map
Three Year Year Construction Plan
NBN Co has released a Three Year Construction Plan which outlines fibre rollout locations and technologies across Australia.
Three Year Construction Plan
Rollout Map