National Broadband Network: Regional Backbone Blackspots Program

As part of the Australian Government's commitment to deliver a National Broadband Network that will provide superfast broadband to Australian homes and workplaces, it is investing up to $250 million to immediately address backbone blackspots throughout regional Australia.

Backbone links are the broadband highways that connect our cities, towns and rural areas to the wider world. Enhancing backbone competition assists broadband and telephony providers to improve the range, quality and prices of the services they offer in regional areas.

The objectives of the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program are to:

  • deliver an immediate economic stimulus
  • reduce the cost of broadband services
  • put in place key infrastructure for the roll-out of the National Broadband Network.

Nextgen Networks is responsible for the rollout of the approximately 6,000 km backbone infrastructure.

The Minister officially launched construction of the Darwin, Emerald and Longreach route on 17 February 2010 and construction of the Geraldton route on 21 May 2010. Construction activities for the link to Broken Hill have commenced and activities for Victor Harbor and South West Gippsland will commence shortly.

Maps of the RBBP links are provided below.

Geraldton (WA)

Darwin (NT), Emerald and Longreach (QLD)

Broken Hill (NSW)

Victor Harbor (SA)

South West Gippsland (VIC)

All links (Australia wide)

This infrastructure will provide new backbone transmission links to more than 100 regional locations along the routes to the priority locations. It will enhance competition and encourage retail service providers to improve the range, quality and prices of broadband and telephony services available to Australians in regional areas.

All links are expected to be completed by September 2011. However, the shorter links are expected to enter service earlier.

Nextgen Networks is also responsible for operating and maintaining the backbone transmission links to the priority blackspot locations for an initial five year operational period.

The Australian Government expects the roll-out of new competitive backbone links will benefit regional businesses and residents in a number of ways, including:

  • lower prices, greater choice, more generous download allowances and greater access to fixed broadband services
  • higher quality and increased availability and choice of mobile broadband services
  • lower cost data services for small and medium enterprises and businesses with regional offices.

To facilitate competition, the new backbone transmission services will be offered on open and equivalent terms and conditions to ensure equal access for service providers.

The following documents provide more information on the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program.

Consultation paper and submissions

The Australian Government sought stakeholders' views on approaches to address regional backbone blackspots through the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program stakeholder consultation paper.

Submissions in response to the consultation paper closed on Tuesday 12 May 2009.

Contact information

If you would like more information regarding this program, please contact:

Regional Backbone Blackspots Branch
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: regionalbackboneblackspots@dbcde.gov.au

 
Document ID: 111768 | Last modified: 1 September 2010, 11:37am