The Hon Michelle Rowland MP
Minister for Communications
The Hon Kristy McBain
Member for Eden-Monaro
Eligible families and businesses in Snowy Monaro will be able to upgrade to a full-fibre broadband connection as part of the Australian Government’s plan for a better National Broadband Network.
These premises are among the 400,000 announced in the latest tranche of eligible suburbs and towns across Australia and right here in Eden-Monaro, including:
- Cooma
- Jindabyne
- Bombala
Newly eligible premises will be able to upgrade their NBN service from fibre to the node to fibre to premise, joining the 3 million Australian homes and businesses previously served by a slower, less reliable copper connection that can already access full-fibre upgrades.
The copper broadband network retained under the Coalition is slower, less reliable, more expensive to maintain and more likely to experience prolonged faults. In contrast, world-class fibre broadband means faster upload and download speeds, and a more reliable connection for residents and small businesses.
Access to full fibre is driving productivity savings for households and businesses, with NBN users saving over 100 hours and $2,580 per year by using higher speed broadband.
NBN research shows that the network has delivered $122 billion worth of economic uplift to 2022, and has helped create approximately 169,000 additional jobs – the equivalent of a 1.3 per cent increase in Australia’s labour force.
By the end of December 2023, 75 per cent of premises in the NBN fixed line network will be able to access fibre all the way to their homes and benefit from download speeds of close to 1 Gbps through NBN’s fastest residential plan.
An upgrade will be available on-demand where an eligible household or business takes out a higher speed plan, with no upfront installation cost.
These upgrades have been made possible by the Albanese Government’s election commitment to invest $2.4 billion to expand full-fibre access to an additional 1.5 million premises by the end of 2025.
The full list of suburbs and towns with newly eligible premises can be found here:
www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fibre
The full list of suburbs and towns with newly eligible premises can be found here:
www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/fttp-upgrade-with-higher-speed-tiers
Eligibility criteria and details on how to apply for NBN’s full fibre can be found here:
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“Affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband is no longer a ‘nice to have’ - it is absolutely essential to work, learn, transact, engage with government services and telehealth.
“For many years, millions of Australians have been held back by slow and unreliable broadband on the ageing copper network.
“We’re getting on with the job of delivering a better NBN. Three million more Australian homes and businesses can now order full fibre due to the upgrade program – and today’s announcement will see another 400,000 premises eligible to order full fibre by the end of 2025.
“The economic benefits that flow from quality broadband are immense. Our investments to upgrade the NBN is a boon for local manufacturing, with tens of thousands of kilometres of fibre produced right here in Australia by local workers.
“The Albanese Government wants to enable the NBN’s full potential, and these upgrades are helping us do just that.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain:
“Staying connected and having access to faster and more reliable internet is a top priority for all communities across Eden-Monaro – which is why we continue to progress our plan for a better National Broadband Network.
“Over the last decade across Eden-Monaro, we’ve not only seen half of some streets miss out on this vital connectivity, but entire communities stuck on the copper broadband network – a legacy of the Liberals and Nationals.
“By connecting more locals in Bombala, Cooma and Jindabyne to high speed broadband, we’re making it easier for them to operate their small businesses, study and work from home, and keep in touch with family and friends.
“This will dramatically improve their quality of life, and for local businesses in particular, mean they can take advantage of the opportunities that come with the growing digital economy.”
