The first fibre for the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Goodna, Queensland, has been hauled, with residents to be switched on to the network from early next year.
Around 14,000 premises will be connected to the NBN via fibre in Goodna and surrounding areas, including Gailes, Collingwood Park, Redbank Plains, Augustine Heights and Bellbird Park.
Construction is scheduled for completion next year.
“High-definition videoconferencing means that kids [from schools in the area] may be able to take classes that their local school doesn't offer and people will be able to consult with medical specialists from around the country, without travelling long distances,” Bernie Ripoll, federal member for Oxley, said in a statement.
Construction will have commenced or been completed on around 122,000 premises in Queensland by the end of the year.
The first NBN fibre cable in Coffs Harbour was also laid last week. Residents in the Coffs Harbour region will be switched on to the NBN from early next year, with Korora, Toormina and Boambee scheduled to be switched on to the network in the first half of 2014.
Construction is scheduled to have commenced or been completed on around 758,000 premises around Australia by end of this year.
Jim Hasselll, head of product development and sales at NBN Co, told a Senate Estimates committee recently that NBN Co has hooked up just shy of 6400 fibre broadband connections to the NBN so far.
Of the 25,495 NBN-connected premises, “just under 6400 are fibre, just under 600 are fixed wireless and just over 17,000 are for satellite,” he said.
NBN Co has set a target of passing 54,300 premises by the end of this calendar year.
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