Launceston has been declared ‘ready for service’, becoming the first city in Tasmania to be entirely connected to the NBN network.
In Tasmania, more than 59 per cent of the network is ready for service, with planning or construction underway in all other parts of Tasmania.
The milestone for Launceston means it is now one of the most connected regional cities in Australia.
According to nbn data, around 40,000 premises are now in ‘ready for service’ suburbs in urban Launceston.
The major construction milestone was celebrated as nbn announced last week that nationally the network had now passed three million premises ready for service.
Meanwhile, work continues across the greater Launceston region, and further into the North East with the continued building of fixed wireless towers.
Remote and regional areas in the North East can already access the nbn through services over the Sky Muster satellite.
nbn Corporate Affairs Manager Tasmania Russell Kelly said, “The rollout occurs suburb-by-suburb – and for urban Launceston, all suburbs are now declared ‘ready for service’.
“It means that residents and businesses in urban Launceston can contact a retail service provider and order an nbn service.
“It is a tremendous opportunity for Launceston, and especially business, which now has a world of possibility for growth and innovation using services over the nbn network.
“Declaring urban Launceston ready for service also marks the completion of a major rollout effort by nbn and its delivery partners.”
Mr Kelly said hundreds of employees and contractors had worked on the project over the last four years, often encountering and solving challenging, unique problems.
“The managers, designers, construction contractors and field workers deserve thanks for sticking to the job.
“The knowledge and expertise is now being used in other states as they continue the rollout.”
