North-east Victoria will have access to a significantly more capable wireless NBN network thanks to a $480 million investment.
The funds were allocated by the government in the 2022-23 Federal Budget.
Liberal Candidate for Indi Ross Lyman welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement on Saturday, saying the funding will significantly improve the quality of services being provided over the NBN fixed wireless and satellite networks.
“One of the most frequent things I hear as I move around the north east is that we need more wireless internet coverage and increased bandwidth,” Mr Lyman said.
“Being a Liberal candidate, I have direct access to the Minister for Communications, and have been able to champion the communication needs of our region directly to Government,” Mr Lyman said.
The Federal Government announcement highlighted that upgrades would extend the coverage range from a tower, and allow higher speed services to everyone served by the tower.
This means more people can be served by NBN fixed wireless internet, it means higher speed services on the NBN fixed wireless network, and it means higher amounts of data can be used by households and business customers wirelessly.
The upgrade will expand the fixed wireless footprint coverage by up to 50 per cent, enabling 30,050 additional premises across the north east to access fixed wireless services instead of Sky Muster satellite services.
“This means people who rely on wireless internet, who operate things like regional businesses, market stalls and farming operations, can use technology like EFTPOS, or fly drones across their farms, with the knowledge the internet coverage and bandwidth will be there to support them,” Mr Lyman said.
“This announcement builds on the (Federal) Government’s significant local investment in the Mobile Black Spot Program, with (more than) 50 black spot towers built in the north east since the Liberals came to government in 2013, providing internet to some of the most remote locations across the north east.”
This announcement will see NBN fixed wireless services upgraded to achieve download speeds of up to 250mbps.
The aim is to give regional Australians access to improved services that will help maximise the economic and social benefits of the NBN and support Australia to be a leading digital economy.