New estates to get NBN first but how fast for how much?

Stan Beer
Friday, 07 January 2011 14:04

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Government funded National Broadband Network operator, NBN Co, has reiterated its plans to provide fibre broadband infrastructure in new estates to property developers going forward. New estates will be among the first to get fibre to homes, although what that means in terms of broadband bang for buck is still fuzzy.

NBN Co Chief Executive Officer, Mike Quigley said that homes and businesses in new developments will be among the first to be connected to fast speeds offered over the National Broadband Network. However, NBN Co qualifies this statement by saying that the speeds actually experienced by end-users will depend on a number of factors including the retail broadband plan they choose, their equipment and their in-premises connection.

From 1 January 2011, developers of all broadacre developments and infill developments of 100  premises or more released over a three year period have been able to apply to have fibre infrastructure installed by NBN Co.

According to NBN Co, more than 70 online applications have been submitted by developers requesting fibre for new developments since New Year's Day when NBN Co's online
application process went live.

NBN Co claims more than 2,000 pre-existing development applications, representing some 70,000 premises in new developments, are expected to be submitted in January and NBN Co is preparing to start work in these developments in the first quarter of this year.

Developers will be required to install 'pit and pipe' infrastructure to NBN Co's standards in order for their development to benefit from a fibre installation.

NBN Co aims to pass 172,000 premises and provide and establish an active service to some 132,000 premises in Greenfield estates by June 2012.

'There is a great opportunity to maximise efficiency and lower costs when fibre is installed at the early stages of a new development,' Mike Quigley said.

'We've created a straight forward and easy to use online application process for developers to register their new developments and request fibre installation from NBN Co and we want to encourage developers to register.'

'Developers that have new broadacre developments or infill developments of 100 premises or more should register their request for fibre from NBN Co at www.nbnco.com.au/NewDevelopments.'