The future of high-speed internet at affordable prices on the Central Coast could be at risk if the Liberal/National Party Coalition wins this year’s Federal election, says Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid.
Reid said the Labor Federal Government would fund the upgrade of Australia’s remaining national fibre-to-the node (FTTN) network through an equity injection of up to $3B, with NBN Co contributing more than $800M to the project.
He said the Government would guarantee that NBN Co would remain in public ownership, which was the best means of ensuring prices for high-speed internet remained affordable for all Australians.
He claims the Coalition wants to strand Australians on ageing copper connections and privatise NBN Co.
“Peter Dutton made this clear when he instructed his Party to vote against Government legislation to keep the NBN Co in public hands in late 2024,” he said.
“Fast, reliable, affordable internet is an essential building block of any modern economy.
“Connectivity boosts national productivity, enables innovation and creates jobs.”
Reid said modelling by Accenture suggested individual households could save more than 100 hours and $2,580 per year in avoided travel time and costs from accessing faster broadband.
He said the extra $3B investment would ensure all Australia had fast and reliable access to the National Broadband Network.
“In my electorate of Robertson, 9,214 additional premises will receive access to high-speed fibre, and in the electorate of Dobell, an extra 4,879 premises,” he said.
“Overall, 98.9 per cent of premises in Robertson and 98.3 per cent in Dobell will have gigabit speed capability by 2030.
“An additional 3,331 premises across the electorate of Shortland, which includes northern Central Coast suburbs such as Chain Valley Bay and Budgewoi, will be eligible for an upgrade under the Federal Labor Government plans.”
Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland said fast and reliable broadband was essential infrastructure now and in the long term.
“That’s why we’re committed to working with NBN Co to finish the job of upgrading the network to give thousands more Australians access to world-class broadband speeds,” she said.
“This investment will see the final fibre-to-the-node premises reap the benefits of faster broadband coming to 622,000 homes and businesses.
“On top of our previous $2.4B investment to support NBN Co’s upgrade program and our promise to keep the NBN in public hands, this announcement shows our commitment to delivering a better NBN for Australians.”
It’s to bad upgrading fixed wireless customers to some sort of fixed line is never talked about. The upgrades to fixed wireless are very hit and miss due to terrain and trees. We are the forgotten ones.
Please don’t forget that originally the plan was to connect to the premises (FTTP). Thanks to short sighted fools this audacity was dumped and now it appears that Labor is happy to pursue this lack of vision. Removing the outdated copper network was always the plan and would vastly improve connectivity with significant repercussions to people’s lives and the economy. Sadly I suppose we will have to wait yet another 15 years for the system to achieve the smart goal.