NBN Co and the NSW Government have announced a co-investment deal designed to deliver enhanced nbn broadband services to over 11,000 homes and businesses across 46 locations in regional NSW.
The partnership will see the construction or co-location of 56 new fixed wireless towers that will utilise 5G millimetre wave technology, to help deliver faster speeds across the network, including into the evening.
In recent years, NBN Co has focused on delivering co-investment opportunities with all levels of government across the nation to further enhance the capabilities of the network. This latest investment announcement follows previously announced projects with the NSW Government, including along the Cobar Corridor.
Gavin Williams, nbn Chief Development Officer, Regional and Remote, says: “We are excited to be working with the NSW Government to enable enhanced nbn services to over 11,000 homes and businesses across regional NSW.
“As a result of the exponential growth in data usage seen over the past decade, we are facing a step-change in demand for broadband in rural and regional areas, and we must continue to evolve the network to meet that demand now, and into the future.
“From working and learning from home, accessing remote healthcare or enjoying online entertainment, people in the bush are just as excited about the possibilities presented by access to fast and secure broadband as those in metro areas.
“Co-investment opportunities such as this one with the NSW Government are one of the many ways, we continue to strengthen Australia’s digital backbone and enhance connectivity in our regions.”
NBN Co recently announced the trial of a new Sky Muster Plus plan that it hopes will allow it to provide faster speeds and even more unmetered data to satellite customers from late 2023. The company also announced that an additional one million households and businesses – up to 58 per cent in regional areas – would get access to faster and more reliable broadband, as the rollout of full fibre to the premises continues across the country.
These announcements follow last year’s announcement from nbn and the Australian Government of an additional AUD$750 million investment t to the nbn fixed wireless and satellite footprint to extend the reach of existing nbn Fixed Wireless coverage by at least 50 per cent, as well as enabling faster speeds.
The 46 regional locations set to benefit from the new co-investment program are:
- Baradine
- Binda
- Bingie
- Binnaway
- Brayton
- Brewarrina
- Collombatti
- Area surrounding Condobolin
- Area surrounding Coonabarabran
- Area surrounding Crookwell
- Deepwater
- Emmaville
- Goolgowi
- Grabben Gullen
- Grattai
- Area surrounding Grenfell
- Gundary
- Hargraves
- Area surrounding Hay
- Area surrounding Henty
- Herons Creek
- Kentucky
- Kundabung
- Laggan
- Lower Boro
- Merah North
- Area surrounding Moree
- Mungindi
- Area surrounding Narrabri
- Parkesbourne
- Pleasant Hills
- Area surrounding Pokolbin
- Quialigo
- Quorrobolong
- Area surrounding Rylstone
- Area south of Goulburn
- Taralga
- Tirrannaville / Yarra
- Tottenham
- Urana
- Area surrounding Walcha
- Area surrounding Wee Waa
- Wilcannia
- Windellama
- Woolbrook
- Yerong Creek