The Federal Government has announced the first round of regional locations where it will start building the National Broadband Network, with construction expected to begin by September.
The Government will spend $250 million on a priority rollout in six locations: Emerald and Longreach in Queensland, Geraldton in Western Australia, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Broken Hill in New South Wales, Victor Harbor in South Australia and South and West Gippsland in Victoria.
Federal Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy says the fast-tracked investment is designed to kick-start the Government’s new Regional Backbone Blackspots Program and stimulate competition and improve regional broadband services.
“Backbone links are the broadband highways that connect our cities, towns and rural areas to the wider world,” he said.
“Access to competitive backbone infrastructure on an open access, equivalent basis will allow retail broadband providers to expand further into regional areas.”
The six projects will include the first of 25,000 local jobs to support the eight-year National Broadband Network rollout.
The Minister said more rollout locations would be identified later this year.
James was the editor and publisher of SmartCompany and LeadingCompany for five years. He is now the Australian Financial Review‘s companies & markets editor, and a former BRW editor.
