NBN Co yesterday said connections would start about September next year.

The program involves up to 9000 homes and businesses across Albury and more than 15,000 premises in Wodonga and the Mount Beauty area.

Tawonga will also benefit, with construction expected to be completed in about a year.

Albury suburbs covered by the plan are Albury central, West Albury, East Albury and South Albury.

NBN Co said a mix of technology would be used in the roll-out, which would also involve 700 homes and businesses at Holbrook, 500 at Culcairn and 500 at Henty.

The technology comprises fixed line and fibre-to-the-node connections.

Farrer MP Sussan Ley applauded NBN Co’s announcement.

“The Albury-Wodonga region is a tech-savvy area,” she said.

“We’ve been hungry to get the NBN as soon as possible.

“Today we make good on that promise to start making it happen.

“The Coalition knows rural areas need this technology just as much our major centres.

“We’re delivering the technology as fast as we can but only making assurances we know can be achieved.”

The number of premises set to be connected in Wodonga and the Mount Beauty area is 15,370.

Indi MP Cathy McGowan said Wodonga residents had been constantly asking her office when they would get the NBN.

“And today they have their answer,” she said.

“This is delivering on my election commitment to work with the government to fix telecommunications problems in Indi.

“I will continue to represent the people’s needs to government as this program continues.”

Ms McGowan said the faster internet speeds and more reliable connections available in 2017 was “great news” for householders and business owners.

“Small business owners will welcome this news and the chance to grow their enterprises further when they connect to the NBN,” she said.

NBN spokesman Trent Williams said his company’s task was to give all Australians access to very fast broadband as soon and as cost-effectively as possible.