Goulburn Valley & North-East Victorian communities switch-on to National Broadband Network

Locals welcome benefits of high-speed broadband around Shepparton and Benalla

Farms, homes and businesses across parts of 28 communities can now switch to the National Broadband Network.

NBN Co’s fixed-wireless network is now available to more than 2,350 families and businesses in the following communities:

NBN Co spokesperson Trent Williams said fixed-wireless services will mean faster broadband for farms, residents and businesses in the area.

“We’re bringing better broadband to the bush. These fixed-wireless services are designed to deliver internet speeds and bandwidth that many in the big cities take for granted today,” Mr Williams said.

“The NBN will allow all the family to be online at once, to make high-quality video calls with fewer drop outs, download movies in minutes and stream TV,” he said.*

Katandra West resident Paul Verbeek today demonstrated how his  NBN Fixed Wireless connection is opening up new possibilities for the way his family use the internet at home.

“We’ve got three kids at secondary school with laptops and iPhones, so having a faster connection is a real bonus for their education. On our previous internet service things really slowed down when the whole family was online. It was really frustrating,” Mr Verbeek said.

“The Telstra NBN service works well even when we’re all online at once and it’s helping our kids get better access to information and educational resources. The reliability also means I’m looking to set up my email so that I can work from home from time to time,” he said.*

NBN Co’s wholesale fixed-wireless service offers download speeds of up to 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of up to 5 megabits per second to service providers.*

NBN Co also plans to deliver these wholesale speeds over satellite in rural and remote areas in 2015 when its Long Term Satellite Service is scheduled for launch.

NBN Co encourages residents on the outskirts of Shepparton and Benalla to visit the website to see if their home or business is included. Visit NBN Co’s interactive map at www.nbnco.com.au/rollout/rollout-map.

Families and businesses in the Goulburn Valley and North-East Victorian region who want to sign up should call their preferred local telephone and internet company to order a service today.

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Notes to editors

• The ten sites to switch on in the Shepparton and Benalla region include infrastructure at Congupna, Lemnos, Zeerest, Katandra West, Orrvale, Tallygaroopna, Benalla South, Benalla North, Nagambie and  Baddaginnie.
• NBN Co’s fixed wireless and satellite networks will serve communities with low population density where it is impractical or uneconomical to roll out fixed line technologies.
• Fixed wireless services are delivered by radio communications via antennas that transmit a signal direct to a small outdoor antenna on your home or business.
• Before the network equipment is installed a service validation test will be carried out, those premises which are unable to be served by fixed wireless may be able to receive NBN Co’s satellite service.  Visit www.nbnco.com.au/satellite for more information.
• A standard installation of network equipment is currently free of charge.  Remember to ask your preferred service provider if they have any other fees.
• In fixed wireless areas copper phone lines will remain in place to provide a telephone service.
• For more information, visit nbnco.com.au

* NBN Co is designing the NBN to provide these speeds to NBN Co’s wholesale customers, telephone and internet service providers. Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the NBN depends on some factors outside NBN Co’s control like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how your service provider designs its network.