NBN Co today announced their new three year rollout plan which has seventeen Gold Coast suburbs on the list. See www.nbnco.com.au for coverage information. OntheNet estimates that close to 50% of OntheNet Gold Coast customers will be able to connect to the NBN within the next 3 years which is great news for those customers.
There are three key items customers should be aware of at this time:
- OntheNet will be offering highly competitive NBN based plans on the Gold Coast and nationally. There will be plans for residential and business customers leveraging the high speeds of NBN.
- OntheNet already has fibre in place to the proposed Gold Coast NBN Point of Interconnects (POIs), so OntheNet will be able to connect customers on day one of the NBN arrival in each suburb. The business has been working quietly in anticipation of NBN and our network is very well prepared for the step up in speeds. OntheNet has been a participant of the South Brisbane Fibre upgrade since it started in 2011 which uses the same technology as NBN. OntheNet has valuable experience in the NBN / fibre technology.
- Other than a few greenfield property estates under construction now, no NBN services will be available on the Gold Coast for approximately 12 months. There is plenty of time before any upgrades will occur locally.
FAQ
Below are some common questions we anticipate you may have about OntheNet and NBN. Feel free to email OntheNet to ask further NBN related questions or have a look at the federal government NBN website which answers many common questions: http://www.nbn.gov.au/frequently-asked-questions. More information will be added to the OntheNet website over the coming months.
Q. What about the rest of us outside the announced suburbs?
A. Existing services will continue as they are now and NBN will make further announcements over time. This is a long term project, quite possibly taking 10 years or more to complete.
Q. How will I know when OntheNet are going to cut me over?
A. OntheNet will be communicating personally with all customers well in advance of any changes. Our service, local presence and field technicians on the ground will be key elements in ensuring a smooth transition for you.
Q. Do I have choice to stay with my existing service if I don’t want NBN?
A. No. The federal government and NBN Co have determined that all copper based broadband services will be terminated after customers migrate to NBN. Existing fibre services won’t be affected though.
Q. I know the speed will be much higher so will it cost a lot more?
A. While OntheNet’s final pricing is not yet determined it is expected that personal and business plans at entry level speeds will be similar. Much higher speeds will definitely be higher rates of course, but better than current offerings. The key benefit here is that ultimately everyone will be able to choose (higher) speeds and pricing regardless of location.
Q. Will I have to change anything at home / my office?
A. There will be hardware supplied to deliver the service and OntheNet will discuss individual needs as required.