Broadband champion Helen Thompson welcomes Victorian NBN rollout schedule
NBN champion and Director of the University of Ballarat’s Centre for eCommerce and Communications, Dr Helen Thompson, has today welcomed the release of NBN Co’s first national 12-month fibre rollout schedule for the National Broadband Network (NBN).
The schedule includes Ballarat Central as well as Bacchus Marsh, Brunswick, Melbourne City, Melton, South Morang and Tullamarine.
The schedule lists the locations around the country where the fibre network rollout will begin construction before September 2012.
“The NBN will deliver unprecedented opportunities to our region,” Dr Thompson said. “It will enable us to overcome broadband access issues and will contribute to greater economic prosperity, health and well-being, as well as the retention of commerce and industry.
“There are already some great examples of the innovative application of ICT technologies within our local shires, but so much more will be possible with next generation broadband.”
More than half a million premises across 56 Australian towns and suburbs are set to gain access to NBN fibre services under NBN Co’s first one-year construction schedule. This includes more than 61,000 premises in Victorian communities.
Dr Thompson cited a number of local businesses already using online initiatives, which would benefit from the arrival of reliable and affordable high-speed broadband.
“BM Fresh, for example, is using sophisticated technologies to track premium lettuce products from seed to delivery, and Djerriwarra Health is generating time and financial savings through the use of VoIP and video-conferencing,” she said.
“And for Colour Vision Systems, with more than 90 percent of its customers a plane ride away, the internet is critical to how business is done. CSV can configure, monitor and repair fruit sorting and packing equipment remotely.”
Dr Thomson said businesses such as these would be able to grow and expand their digital capabilities, and move beyond the limitations of current broadband. It would also allow other businesses and households to fully participate in the benefits of the digital economy.
“This schedule marks the beginning of our digital futures,” she said.
Media inquiries – Dr Helen Thompson 0417 059 659
