National Broadband Network - overview

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• Rollout update
• New developments
• Regional Backbone Blackspots Program

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is a next-generation broadband network designed for Australia’s future needs. It will provide faster, more reliable broadband access to all Australian homes and businesses through a mix of three technologies: optic fibre, fixed wireless and next-generation satellite.

• 93 per cent of premises will have access to the NBN through optic fibre to the premises, capable of providing broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second
• 7 per cent of premises will have access to the NBN through next-generation fixed wireless and satellite technologies, providing peak speeds of up to 25 megabits per second.

The government has established NBN Co Limited (NBN Co) to design, build and roll out the NBN. Rollout information is available on NBN Co’s website.

•  NBN Co Limited—rollout map

The NBN will be Australia’s first national wholesale-only, open access, high-speed broadband network. This means NBN Co – the company established by government to design, build and operate the NBN – will roll out the network and sell wholesale services to service providers, such as your internet or phone provider. In turn, service providers will offer retail services to you.

Rollout update

NBN fibre rollout

• Commercial services are now available in a number of Australian communities—Armidale, Coffs Harbour, and Kiama (NSW), Brunswick, Bacchus Marsh and South Morang (Vic), Townsville and Aspley (Qld), Willunga  (SA), Deloraine, George Town, Kingston Beach, Midway Point, Scottsdale, Smithton, Sorell, Triabunna and St Helens (Tas).
• Construction of the fibre network is underway or completed in more than 80 communities.
• To date, more than 30 providers are offering services over the NBN. A list of these providers is available here.
  
• On 29 March 2012, NBN Co released its first three year national fibre rollout plan. The indicative plan lists 3.5 million homes and businesses for which construction on the fibre network will commence, or be complete, by mid-2015.
• NBN Co will update the three year plan in March each year.
  

NBN fixed wireless rollout

• NBN Co fixed wireless services are now available in communities surrounding Geraldton (WA), Toowoomba (Qld), Ballarat (Vic), Armidale and Tamworth (NSW).
• NBN Co has made fixed wireless announcements covering more than 200 local government areas across every state and territory Australia
• NBN Co expects to complete the fixed wireless rollout, which uses the latest 4G technology, in 2015.

NBN satellite rollout

• As at 11 February 2013, over 24,000 customers are accessing improved satellite broadband services through the NBN Interim Satellite Service (ISS).
• There are thirteen providers now offering ISS services to consumers.
  
• As part of the NBN long term satellite service, NBN Co will deploy two Ka-band satellites to provide NBN access for those outside the fibre and wireless footprint.

New developments

• At the end of January 2013, NBN Co had received requests from developers to build fibre infrastructure in new developments servicing over 165,000 premises in more than 3200 locations across Australia.
• NBN Co had passed more than 27,000 lots/premises in new developments.
  

For more information please visit the fibre in new developments page.

Regional Backbone Blackspots Program

As part of the Australian Government's commitment to the NBN, it has already invested $250 million to fill in 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 Regional Backbone Blackspots Program has:

• delivered an immediate economic stimulus
• reduced the cost of broadband services
• put in place key infrastructure for the rollout of the NBN.

Six thousand kilometres of fibre optic backbone has been rolled out under the government's $250 million Regional Backbone Blackspots Program (RBBP).

Construction along all five RBBP links—Geraldton, South-West Gippsland, Victor Harbor, Broken Hill and Darwin—is now complete. Internet service providers are offering new and improved services in Geraldton, Victor Harbor and South West Gippsland. Nextgen is currently in the process of connecting retail service providers to the new competitive backbone link in Broken Hill and along Darwin, Emerald and Longreach route.

•  Media release: Better broadband for regional Australia
•  Media release: New 1150km Broken Hill Broadband Backbone Link now 'open for business'
•  Media release: Perth to Geraldton fibre optic link now complete
•  Media release: Victor Harbor Fibre Backbone Link Complete
•  Media release: Faster and cheaper broadband in SA

See the maps of the RBBP links below.

Status updates on each route are available on the interactive  Initiatives in your area map.

Geraldton (WA)

•  Geraldton map (PDF, 341 KB)

Darwin (NT), Emerald and Longreach (Qld)

•  Darwin map (PDF, 454 KB)

Broken Hill (NSW)

•  Broken Hill map (PDF, 380 KB)

Victor Harbor (SA)

•  Victor Harbor map (PDF, 361 KB)

South West Gippsland (Vic)

•  South West Gippsland map (PDF, 375 KB)

All links (Australia-wide)

•  All links map (PDF, 435 KB)

Contact information

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

Regional Backbone Blackspots Program
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601