RUSSELL BROADBENT MP,
MEMBER FOR McMILLAN
JASON WOOD MP,
MEMBER FOR LA TROBE
2 June 2016
Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield, Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent MP and Member for La Trobe Jason Wood MP today launched the first nbn fibre to the node (FTTN) services in Victoria.
“It is a pleasure to be here in Pakenham to mark yet another milestone for the nbn rollout after reaching one million customers last week,” Minister Fifield said.
Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent said the region should take full advantage of the door opening to Australia’s new digital era and residents should contact their preferred service provider to discuss options or place an order for an nbn service.
“From tomorrow the entire city will have nbn access, that means upgraded internet is available to around 20,000 homes and businesses across Pakenham and Officer,” Mr Broadbent said.
“Another 37,000 homes will be able to switch over to the nbn service between now and September at major centres including Moe, Warragul, Drouin, Wonthaggi, and Inverloch and my electorate of McMillan will be one of the most connected in Australia.
“Access to fast broadband at affordable prices can be revolutionary for small businesses, farms and households with students,” Mr Broadbent said.
The nbn’s FTTN network uses the existing copper lines already running into homes to deliver superfast broadband, enabling nbn to dramatically speed up the network rollout, save on construction costs, and reduce the time residents must wait for better broadband.
“The nbn rollout is building momentum right across Victoria with construction due to get underway in Narre Warren, Berwick and Ferntree Gully later this year,” Mr Wood said.
At the 2013 election, under the previous Labor Government, fewer than 20,000 houses in Victoria were connected, despite Brunswick and Ballarat being among the first areas to go into construction in 2010.
“Under Labor, nbn rollout timelines weren’t met, contractors walked off the job, and people’s homes became construction zones,” Minister Fifield said.
“Our changes to Labor’s original rollout have prevented monthly internet bills increasing by up to $43 per month; saved around $30 billion in total funding and brought forward the finish date by 6 to 8 years.”
The nbn network is now available to more than 470,000 premises in Victoria and within that coverage footprint there are 226,000 paying customers.
For more information about the nbn rollout visit: www.nbnco.com.au