NBN's Enhanced Digital Connectivity for Wagga Wagga
We are pleased to advise of significant progress within one of our Four Pillars - Connectivity. On Tuesday 22nd September 2020 NBN Co has announced an expansion of its nbn™ Business Fibre Zones which includes 85 regional centers. Wagga Wagga has been named amongst the first 130 Business Fibre Zones to be implemented. All businesses within these zones will have access to Enterprise Ethernet, at significantly reduced wholesale prices. Access to superior digital technology is a key component in securing connectivity for the Wagga Wagga community and ensures our businesses remain competitive, innovative and relevant in local, national and international markets.
As announced previously, nbn™ are installing Fibre To The Premises (FTTP) high speed connectivity in the Bomen Industrial Estate (SAP). Early on, Committee for Wagga identified and has continued to advocate that the City of Wagga Wagga needed access to this level of digital service if we are to grow and support business in all areas of the City.
According to nbn™, ‘this will level the business playing field for regional businesses, helping advance their digital capability by transforming the accessibility of wholesale premium-grade business solutions that can be offered by internet retailers’. It will ‘create up to 240 nbn business fibre zones nationally, 85 in regional centres,’ of which Wagga Wagga is included. All businesses included in these zones will have access to the nbn’s premium business plans at capital city prices.
The Wagga Wagga business zone covers the East Wagga Business park, the hospital precinct, Charles Sturt University and the central business district among others. View the Wagga Wagga Business Fibre Zone here.
The first 130 of the business zones will be updated on nbn™ website maps by 28 September, with the remainder complete by the end of November.
According to the nbn™ media release:
Nationally, 14 of the nbn™ Business Fibre Zones will be located specifically to underpin existing health precincts – locations which include major hospitals and related research and education facilities – providing a boost for essential services and health innovation. 11 of these are included in the first release announced 22nd September 2020.
Secondly, those businesses in nbn™ Business Fibre Zones will see Enterprise Ethernet pricing reduced, some by up to 67 per cent, giving thousands of regional businesses access to the same support as businesses in capital city centres, at the same wholesale price.
Enterprise Ethernet is NBN Co’s fastest symmetrical wholesale product and premium-grade business offering. It has options for prioritised traffic, high capacity and symmetrical upload and download wholesale speeds from 10Mbps to close to 1Gbps*, as well as enhanced 24/7 support through the business nbn™ Operations Centre with a dedicated team located in Australia.
This announcement by nbn™, and the TransGrid media release in support of the investment, is a very significant advancement for the City and validates Committee for Wagga's policy direction and advocacy efforts.