2014-10-20



NBN Co has announced the first 200,000 households and businesses in 140 suburbs on the east coast of Australia that are getting the NBN via fibre-to-the-node (FTTN). The full-list includes Newcastle, Central Coast and Lake Macquarie in NSW, and Greater Brisbane and Wide Bay Burnett.

It’s a mix of good news and bad news for these suburbs.

NBN Co spokesman John Simon said the network should be up and running in these new areas by the end of next year.

“Today’s announcement is a progressive step in our move to a mix of broadband technologies which will help us speed up the NBN rollout across the country,” Mr Simon said.

“This means 250,000 Australian homes and businesses will able to take advantage of fast and reliable broadband sooner than expected.”

Significant facts are that none of these suburbs were previously included on any list, which provides new assurances that the NBN isn’t just something that’ll come one day that might never happen.

The other consideration is that most householdes and businesses in these areas will be waiting until at least until ‘calendar Q3 2015′ – which means about this time next year. The NBN haven’t guaranteed that all connections will be made by then.

A note to the media suggests that on average, “it takes around 12 months from the start of construction until residents and business owners can receive NBN services from phone and internet providers”.

That also means that while the NBN is making the connections, reseller ISPs are the ones selling it to you.

And of course, it’s a long way from fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) originally promised, which is probably the worst part of the news. You get broadband, but it’s not the amazing download and upload speeds that we all hope for.

FTTN technology integrates fibre optic cables on main routes between nodes, with Telstra’s existing copper lines to houses. The copper becomes the limitation, and is a point of contention for many.

FTTN rollout areas include parts of:

NSW

Region

Estimated premises covered

Suburbs covered

Lake Macquarie

51,000

Belmont North, Belmont South, Belmont, Blacksmiths, Croudace Bay, Eleebana, Floraville, Jewells, Marks Point, Mount Hutton, Pelican, Tingira Heights, Valentine, Windale, Argenton, Barnsley, Boolaroo, Booragul, Cameron Park, Edgeworth, Holmesville, Killingworth, Marmong Point, Minmi, Seahampton, Speers Point, Teralba, Warners Bay, West Wallsend, Bonnells Bay, Brightwaters, Cooranbong, Dora Creek, Eraring, Mandalong, Martinsville, Mirrabooka, Morisset Park, Morisset, Silverwater, Sunshine

Central Coast

57,000

Budgewoi Peninsula, Canton Beach, Charmhaven, Gorokan, Hamlyn Terrace, Kanwal, Lake Haven, Norah Head, Toukley, Warnervale, Woongarrah, Bensville, Blackwall, Booker Bay, Box Head, Daleys Point, Davistown, Empire Bay, Ettalong Beach, Green Point, Horsfield Bay, Killcare Heights, Killcare, Kincumber, Koolewong, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Pretty Beach, Saratoga, St Huberts Island, Umina Beach, Woy Woy Bay, Woy Woy, Yattalunga, Tuggerawong, Wadalba, Wyongah, Noraville

Newcastle

47,000

Adamstown, Bar Beach, Broadmeadow, Carrington, Cooks Hill, Hamilton East, Hamilton South, Hamilton, Islington, Kooragang, Maryville, Merewether Heights, Merewether, Newcastle East, Newcastle West, Newcastle, The Hill, The Junction, Tighes Hill, Wickham

Total

155,000

99

Queensland

Region

Estimated premises covered

Suburbs covered**

Wide Bay Burnett

40,000

Gympie, Jones Hill, Monkland, Southside, Victory Heights, Ashfield, Avenell Heights, Bundaberg Central, Bundaberg East, Bundaberg North, Bundaberg South, Bundaberg West, Gooburrum, Kalkie, Kensington, Kepnock, Millbank, Norville, Rubyanna, Svensson Heights, Thabeban, Walkervale

Greater Brisbane and Moreton Bay

49,500

Bray Park, Brendale, Cashmere, Joyner, Lawnton, Strathpine, Warner, Bellmere, Caboolture South, Caboolture, Elimbah, Moodlu, Morayfield, Upper Caboolture, Wamuran, Banksia Beach, Bellara, Bongaree, Welsby, White Patch, Woorim

Total

89,500

43

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