FASTER broadband will be available next year for more than 2050 houses and businesses in 13 communities across the south-west with new National Broadband Network (NBN) fixed wireless service transmission towers.
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However, there is still no timeline for the proposed major cable rollout.
NBN Co announced yesterday construction had started on new towers at Allansford, Camperdown, Hamilton, Heathmere, Macarthur, Moyston, Mount Dundas, Mount Clay and Nirranda South.
Residents in nearby communities will be able to order broadband services through retail providers in about 12 months when construction and testing is completed.
Coverage areas are explained on the NBN website.
NBN Co says the download speeds of up to 25 megabits a second and uploads of up to five megabits a second are similar to average ADSL speeds in metropolitan areas.
“It opens up opportunities for local farms, businesses and the wider region to participate in the digital age,” NBN Co spokesman Corrie Withers said.
Dennington and Bushfield have also been earmarked for NBN towers, but the Bushfield proposal will be subject to a residents’ appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Rollout of the national fibre-optic cable network into western Victoria depends on further approval by the federal government which favours part-retention of existing copper cables.
pcollins@fairfaxmedia.com.au
