nbn will upgrade their fixed wireless service ahead of the network rollout, to help bridge the digital divide.
nbn will use radio signals from ground stations, with the technology delivering fast broadband by transmitting data to equipment inside and outside the home.
The technology is designed to provide access to wholesale speeds of up to 50mbps download and 20mbps upload, which is currently 30 per cent faster than nbn’s next best fixed wireless global peer in Ireland.
Unlike mobile wireless services where speeds can be affected by the number of people moving into an area, the fixed wireless service is designed to deliver fast and reliable broadband to regions which often experience lags and drop-outs.
The technology is currently available in communities across Australia including Bendigo, Wangaratta, Mackay, Bundaberg, Gympie, Toowoomba, Katanning, Pinjarra, Riverland, Adelaide Hills, Coffs Harbour, Nowra, Wagga Wagga, North West Coast, Tasman Peninsula, Howard Springs and Berry Springs.
Executive General Manager, Fixed Wireless and Satellite Products, Gavin Williams, said, “By the time we complete the nbn network rollout in 2020, this world-leading broadband service will provide more than half a million homes and businesses living in regional and rural Australia with access to faster internet speeds that rival what their city cousins have available today.”
“Following the launch of Sky Muster, nbn’s first satellite, this milestone is yet another critical part of our plan to help bridge the nation’s digital divide,” Mr Williams said.
“We’re closer than ever before to being on a level playing field between the city and the bush by providing kids in rural areas with access to digital textbooks, farmers with the latest technology and creating a world of new possibilities for regional small businesses.”
The announcement follows a recent Akamai report which ranked Australian Internet speeds at 46th globally, demonstrating the need to provide better access to fast broadband for all Australians.
To put into context, when using the new fixed wireless service it would take 12s to download a 10 minute lecture from Youtube and 16 minutes to download a two hour HD movie.
