nbn rolls out enough fibre in FY22 to span Sydney to London

nbn^® rolled out 17,902 kilometres of fibre in FY22 for network investment upgrades as the company delivered on its purpose to lift the digital capability of Australia.

nbn's Annual Report released today, showed network investment upgrades have given more people the opportunity to take up faster broadband.

More than 5.1 million premises across Australia were able to access the nbn^® Home Ultrafast speed tier at the end of the financial year.

But there’s more work to do – nbn’s goal is to enable more than 9.7 million premises on the Fixed Line network to access plans based on the nbn^® Home Ultrafast wholesale speed tier, offering peak download speeds from 500 Mbps to close to 1 Gbps by the end of 2025.

nbn’s focus on the regions is sharper than ever – cutting vast distances and opening countless opportunities.

Population demographic trends and higher data usage are changing the profile of network demand and usage, particularly in regional Australia.

nbn predicts a 300 per cent rise in customer demand for data on the nbn^® Fixed Wireless network over the next ten years.

nbn is continuing to grow the capacity of its network to keep ahead of increasing demand by pushing fibre deeper into communities and expanding Fixed Wireless and Satellite coverage and capabilities.

While continuing to reinvest in the nbn network, nbn is also committed to operating a future-ready network that is economically and environmentally sustainable.

To support the company’s transition to integrated reporting, this year the company has included its sustainability approach and information on the value the company creates in the Annual Report.

Highlights of this year’s Annual Report include:

• nbn successfully issued its first Green Bond in April 2022 as part of the company’s commitment to reduce emissions and support the nation’s transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
• As part of the first Power Purchase Agreement, nbn announced commencement of work by a third party to build new solar farm in NSW as part of nbn’s target of 100 per cent renewable electricity purchases from December 2025.
• Committed to set science-based emissions reduction targets via the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global body enabling businesses to set emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science.
• Became the first Australian telecommunications company, and the first government business enterprise to have membership of RE100, an initiative of 340 of the world’s largest businesses committed to the use of 100 per cent renewable electricity.
• Completed first company-wide climate change risk assessment, and
• Expanded Business Fibre Zones across the nation from 240 to 304, with 127 in regional locations.
  

Stephen Rue, nbn Chief Executive Officer, said:

“The Annual Report shows more than 8.5 million premises connected to the network at the end of the financial year – that is well over 17 million people relying on our network every day – it really has changed our Australian way of life.

“The total number of Ready to Connect homes and business premises has also increased, rising to more than 12.1 million at 30 June 2022.

“nbn is investing in the network to stay ahead of demand as it grows. It is our goal to extend the network’s reach and capability and bring competition and improved service deeper into rural and regional Australia.

“Sustainability is about making a positive difference for our customers, community, and country – for the long-term. For the past two years, we have produced standalone Sustainability Reports but, this year, we have combined sustainability into our Annual Report, such is the importance we place on running a sustainable, energy-efficient and, ultimately we hope, a zero-carbon network.

“nbn is the backbone for so much social and economic participation and you will find more about that in this year’s Annual Report.”