February 7, 2013
The company building Australia’s National Broadband Network, NBN Co, has begun lodging development applications with the South Burnett Regional Council for fixed wireless facilities.
The facilities will be dedicated to delivering high-speed fixed wireless broadband to smaller townships and rural residential areas across the South Burnett.
A total of 19 fixed wireless facilities are planned for the region, servicing the following communities:
Benarkin, Blackbutt, Cherbourg, Ellesmere, Kumbia, Memerambi, Nanango, Proston, Taabinga, Tingoora and Wattle Camp plus rural areas around Kingaroy, Booie, Murgon and Wondai.
“In the coming weeks NBN Co will lodge 14 development applications and five public notices for facilities which will utilise existing infrastructure,” NBN Co’s Community Account Manager Ryan Williams said.
“Following that, NBN Co will commence consultation for the proposed new fixed wireless facilities, and hold several community information sessions in March for interested residents.
“For decades, rural and regional Australia has been left behind when it comes to telecommunications.
“NBN Co’s plan to deliver high-speed broadband to every Australian home and business using one of three technologies – fibre, fixed wireless and satellite – aims to change that.
“Subject to planning approval, the fixed wireless facilities across the South Burnett plan to deliver high speed wireless broadband services to small townships and rural residents and businesses.
“This announcement is tremendous news for residents and businesses across South Burnett, many of whom have little or no access to high-speed broadband or are confined to a limited service, such as dial-up or broadband over the mobile network. They will be among the first in the region to connect to the NBN.
“Fixed wireless aims to deliver speeds and services that city people take for granted.
“With services delivered over the NBN you can get the whole family online at once to conduct your business and personal communications, to undertake studies, or to have an online medical consultation via a video call, all at a price that is less than what you might think,” Mr Williams said.
NBN Co’s fixed wireless network is designed to offer internet service providers wholesale access speeds of up to 12Mbps, with plans for higher speeds to become available in the future.
While the speeds experienced by users of mobile wireless services can be affected by the number of people moving into and out of the area, NBN Co’s fixed wireless network is engineered to deliver services to a fixed number of premises within a coverage area.
