NBN Co has announced that, from this week, homes and businesses in areas around Armidale will be able to connect to a fixed wireless service.
The news follows the completion of two months of intensive network and business-readiness testing by NBN Co and retail telcos in Armidale to ensure the network was able to deliver robust, high speed broadband to a set number of premises in each coverage area.
Following the successful completion of testing, over 50 customers are already trialling commercial broad-band services from one of ten internet service providers in the Armidale region.
“Armidale is one of the first regions able to order and connect to a fixed wireless NBN service,” said NBN Co’s Head of Product Management, Jim Hassell.
“People living in these areas will soon receive a letter which sets out three easy steps to get connected — call, select and connect.
“We’re encouraging people to call their preferred internet service provider, select the appropriate pack-age that’s right for them and connect by co-ordinating, with their service provider, a time for the NBN Co equipment to be installed and activated,” he said.
“Ordering and connecting to a service brings the world to their door and it’s the first step in improving the way we live and work.
“Unlike mobile phone networks, where speeds experienced by end-users can be affected by the number of people moving into and out of the area, the NBN fixed-wireless service is engineered to deliver high-speed broadband to a set number of premises in a coverage footprint.
“What this means is, end users will experience greater consistency in the speed and quality of service than mobile broadband services can deliver,” Mr Hassell said.
NBN Co aims to complete the entire fixed wireless component of the NBN by 2015 and anticipates passing approximately half a million homes and businesses.
Maps of the indicative fixed-wireless coverage areas for the Armidale region are available at www.nbnco.com.au
Fixed wireless services are delivered by radio communications via antennas that transmit a signal direct to a small outdoor antenna to the premises.
In fixed wireless areas, NBN Co will provide a broadband service only. Copper phone lines will remain in place to provide a telephone service.
The installation of network equipment, including an outdoor antenna and a network determination device will be provided and installed free of charge.
