The Federal Government has extended the National Broadband Network (NBN) fibre footprint from 90 to 93 percent of Australian premises, in accordance with KPMG-McKinsey recommendations.
Today, it unveiled network maps outlining transit links, fibre and fixed wireless coverage areas.
Australian premises in the geographical majority that was located outside of those areas would be serviced via 12 Mbps satellite.
The Government had initially priced the NBN at $43 billion, including $28.5 billion for fibre that would deliver 100 Mbps broadband to 90 percent of premises.
However, consultants from KPMG and McKinsey and Company who conducted a $25 million NBN implementation study urged the Government to spend $2.3 billion more on fibre connections.
Although fibre costs more to deploy, it was likely to have a higher uptake -- and cost was not prohibitive, the study found, highlighting lower backhaul cost estimates than those initially anticipated.
Around 300,000 additional premises would receive optical fibre broadband under the new, extended plans, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy announced today.
Issue: 315 | May 2013
Access CRN's extensive online resources including; email bulletins, community discussions and unique online news.
Processing registration... Please wait.
This process can take up to a minute to complete.
A confirmation email has been sent to your email address - SUPPLIED GOES EMAIL HERE. Please click on the link in the email to verify your email address. You need to verify your email before you can log on to the CRN website or start posting comments on articles.
If you do not receive your confirmation email within the next few minutes, it may be because the email has been captured by a junk mail filter. Please ensure you add the domain '@crn.com.au' to your white-listed senders.
