ALBURY-Wodonga is no closer to knowing when to expect faster broadband under the federal government’s NBN roll-out — but it’s unlikely to arrive before June 2016.
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Despite good news this week for several areas in both Farrer and Indi, the two cities do not form part of NBNCo’s latest 18-month rural and regional roll-out announced this week.
But Farrer MP Sussan Ley believed a timeline for the region would be expected in coming months, while Indi MP Cathy McGowan met an NBNCo representative on Thursday to further push the North East case.
NBNCo’s latest roll-out plan will see 130,000 regional homes connected by 2016, including fibre-to-the-node for 8000 homes in Wangaratta, and fixed wireless access to the very outskirts of Wodonga, as well as Chiltern, Cobram, Myrtleford, Yarrawonga-Mulwala, Corowa, Finley, Howlong and Deniliquin.
The specific number of wireless towers has not yet been indicated.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull also said this week that the long-term satellite network, for remote properties, was expected to be live by the end of next year.
While new estates in Albury-Wodonga are immediately being fibre-connected, existing premises — or “brownfield sites” — are yet to be connected and there is no indication from NBNCo on when it may occur.
Ms Ley said the roll-out of wireless and satellite was back on track, meaning a start could be made on fibre broadband in major towns like Albury.
“Now that this fixed line work is getting under way in the region, I’m confident we’ll get better clarification on the timing for this in coming months,” she said.
Ms McGowan said she met NBNCo government liaison officer Chris Wilcox, where she pushed her hope that Albury-Wodonga — which will be considered as one — and Benalla would be included in the next round of roll-out announcements.
Ms McGowan said Wangaratta was first cab off the rank for fibre-to-the-node because it was linked to a hub in Shepparton, where work was also under way.
“I’ve been told they’re trying to get to the easier ones sooner ... Albury- Wodonga is a separate hub so that missed out,” she said, adding other large regional centres like Bendigo were also overlooked.
Ms McGowan urged people to write to her with their concerns.
“I’m really happy to take up the case of business,” she said.