Australia’s new government claims to have achieved its first major milestone under the ‘Better Connectivity for Rural and Regional Australia Plan’, announcing that AUD480 million (USD333 million) has been provided to NBN Co to upgrade the fixed wireless element of the National Broadband Network (NBN). In a press release regarding the matter, it was noted that with the plan aiming to deliver improved communications coverage in regional Australia, it is expected that the funding will enable consumers in the NBN fixed wireless footprint to benefit from access to increased download speeds of up to 100Mbps, with up to 85% able to access downlink rates of 250 Mbps. Meanwhile, fixed wireless coverage is set to be expanded to cover a further 120,000 currently satellite-only premises. Further, the government has suggested that by settling funding arrangements now, NBN Co will be able to increase Sky Muster data allowances and product inclusions in coming weeks, with further enhancements to follow after the upgrades are complete. Such work will reportedly benefit around 300,000 premises.
With the funding in place, NBN Co will now roll out the fixed wireless upgrades over the next two and a half years, it was noted. More information about exactly when, where, and how these improvements are to be made available will reportedly be announced by the operator ‘over the coming months’.