Ultra-fast NBN services

now ready for order

Eligible residential homes and businesses in parts of the Central Coast can now place an order to upgrade their NBN connection to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).

Dr Reid inspecting fibre optic cables with NBNCo workers at Saratoga.

31 January 2024

 

THE upgrade in NBN services includes parts of: Erina, Erina Heights, Green Point, Holgate, Matcham, and Springfield.

These upgrades will be available on demand where a customer in an eligible premises seeks a higher speed service through their Retail Service Provider.

 

This will allow residents and businesses to take advantage of the faster speeds which are increasingly important in a digital society and economy.

 

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland said “The NBN is a key investment in the nation’s future. Since 2009, the network has kept Australians connected, supported tele-health and remote education, and boosted economic productivity by expanding access to new customers for small businesses.

 

“The Federal Labor Government is committed to ensuring that Australians get the full benefit of the NBN’s potential by enabling as many NBN lines to access full fibre connections as possible.

 

“Delivering on our plan for a better NBN is central to the positive vision Australians voted for.

 

“Eligible local residents and businesses in the Central Coast will now be able to take advantage of higher speed services as a result of this announcement. Expanding fibre access will ensure Australians are at the forefront of digital connectivity and will help bridge the digital divide.”

 

To further expand the benefits of fibre connections, the Federal Labor Government has invested $2.4 billion to enable an additional 1.5 million premises to transition from Fibre to the Node (FTTN) to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) by 2025 – over 660,000 of which will be in regional areas.

 

As a result of the Federal Government’s investment for a better NBN:

 

  • Close to 90 per cent of the NBN fixed-line footprint will have access to plans based on wholesale speeds of 500Mbps to close to gigabit speeds.

 

  • Around 80 per cent of all regional and remote premises will have access to plans based on wholesale speeds of 100 Mbps or more by late 2025. This was estimated at 33 per cent in March 2022.

 

  • 93 per cent of all Australian homes and businesses will have access to plans based on wholesale speeds of 100 Mbps or more.

 

Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid said “The Federal Labor Government’s investment to expand NBN fibre access is a game-changer. This announcement is an opportunity for eligible local families and businesses to enjoy the benefits of a faster, more reliable fibre connection.

 

“I welcome NBN Co’s commitment to supporting the families and businesses in the Central Coast and encourage the community to check the NBN website to see whether they are eligible for an upgrade.”

 

For more information on upgrade eligibility, visit NBN Fibre Upgrade.

 

Back to school with free home broadband

 

With the return of the 2024 school year fast approaching, local families on the Central Coast are being encouraged to check if they are eligible for free home broadband through the Federal Labor Government’s School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI).

 

To ensure more Australians school students can enjoy the transformational benefit of broadband, the Albanese Government is investing $8.8 million to connect up to 30,000 eligible families with school-aged children to the NBN.

 

The affordability initiative has been extended through to 31 December 2025, meaning even more families can benefit from a free home broadband connection for longer.

 

Currently, over 6,000 households have already been connected to free internet through the SSBI, and a further 18,000 vouchers have been issued to eligible families to get connected.

 

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland said “As students around Australia prepare to go back to school, it is essential they have access to reliable, fast home broadband to fully engage in online learning and connect with teachers and peers.

 

“Not only does this inititiave support educational outcomes, it benefits entire households who can access essential digital services like telehealth and banking from home.

 

“The School Student Broadband Intiative is another example of the Federal Labor Government helping families struggling with the cost of living whilst narrowing the digital divide.”

 

To be eligible, a family must:

 

  • Have a child living at home and enrolled in an Australian school;

 

  • Have no active home broadband service over the NBN network;

 

  • Live in premises that can access a standard NBN service.

 

  • Families interested in the SSBI can contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm AEDT) to have their eligibility assessed.

 

Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid said “The Federal Labor Government understands that in order for students to experience the full benefits of 21st century learning, they need accessible and reliable internet access.

 

“The School Student Broadband Initiative ensures students can access the internet if they cannot afford to.

 

“This initiative is about closing the digital divide and providing support to students to excel.”

 

The Government is considering options to further support participating families at the end of 2025, including asking the NBN Low-Income and Digital Inclusion Forum to examine discounted products.

 

For more information on the SSBI, visit Infrastructure-SSBI.

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