Around 39,000 homes and businesses across the Sunshine Coast will have access to faster and more reliable broadband with the phased construction of the fibre component of the National Broadband Network (NBN) due to start from December 2013.
RDA Sunshine Coast Chair Prof Max Standage said the Sunshine Coast was one of 238 regional areas included in the Australian Government’s three-year rollout plan for the NBN announced on 29 March.
“The government’s commitment to a national broadband network is a key step towards our vision for the Sunshine Coast becoming a leading edge digital economy by 2020.”
Prof Standage said support for the rollout of high speed broadband was identified as a key focus area in the Sunshine Coast Regional Roadmap released last year.
“The NBN is critical to the region’s future prosperity. Better use of the digital economy will allow Sunshine Coast businesses to compete more effectively in the local and national market places and develop export opportunities based on the region’s unique assets and strengths. ” he said.
“RDA Sunshine Coast will work with our communities to ensure they maximise the opportunities available through the NBN rollout.”
The fibre construction areas include:
- 6200 premises in Bli Bli, Diddillibah, Marcoola, Mudjimba, Pacific Paradise and Twin Waters. Work is scheduled to start in phases between June-September 2015.
- 8900 premises in Coolum Beach, Mount Coolum, Point Arkwright and Yaroomba. Work is scheduled to start from December 2014, with the last phase starting in June 2015.
- 500 premises in Mapleton. Work is due to start from June 2014.
- 15,200 premises in Alexandra Headland, Kuluin and Maroochydore. Work is scheduled to start in phases between September-December 2014.
- 8200 premises in Burnside, Coes Creek, Highworth, Nambour, Ninderry, Valdora and Yandina. Work is scheduled to start from December 2013 with the last phase starting in March 2014.
It is estimated the NBN services will be available 12 months from the start of the scheduled work.
Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Mr Simon Crean said the rollout would give Australian families and businesses access to essential infrastructure and faster, more reliable broadband, “so our businesses can take on the world and Australian families can access better health and education services.”
“RDAs have a critical role to play in leading their community’s take up of the enormous potential in sectors such as e-commerce, e-health and e-education.”
The NBN is Australia’s first national wholesale-only, open access communications network that that will provide high speed broadband and telephone services using fibre, fixed wireless and satellite services.
To find out about how to connect to the NBN visit www.nbnco.com.au/getting-connected/index.html
For more information visit www.nbn.gov.au