Fast and Reliable broadband is on the way

Construction begins on connecting Orange to the nbn™ network

They’re checking pits and pipes, standing up cabinets and they will soon be hauling fibre through the streets, which can only mean one thing – the nbn™ network is coming to Orange.

Today marks the official start of construction on nearly 18,000 premises in Orange, with homes and businesses able to begin accessing fast and reliable broadband by about August this year.

Kelly Stevens, nbn™ spokesperson said:

“This is great news for locals who will soon be able to rival people in the city when it comes to internet speed and reliability.

“They join more 1600 homes and businesses in outlying areas that are already able to access the network through our fixed wireless technology. Once the fixed line build is completed the region will be fully connected which is great news.

“The nbn will present opportunities in education, business, entertainment, health care and sociability and give local businesses and residents the potential to be more productive, more creative, more efficient and more connected for decades to come.”

John Cobb MP, the Federal Member for Calare said:

“This is terrific news for the region, with work in surrounding centres like Bathurst also expected to start later this year.

“Bridging the digital divide in Australia is vital for regional centres like Orange. You shouldn’t have to live in Sydney or Melbourne to compete on a local, national or global stage, the nbn allows people to do just that.”

Lendlease is nbn’s delivery partner in Orange, setting up a depot at Barrett Court. 

Ashley Mason, Managing Director, Lendlease’s Services business said:

“Our work will help to connect 18,000 homes and businesses in Orange to the nbn as well as another 18,000 in the surrounding region, including Bathurst later in the year.

“Lendlease is committed to creating local jobs whenever possible, and we recently held a recruitment roadshow at a local shopping centre in Orange. We’re also committed to engaging people in the communities where we live and work and will continue this engagement throughout the project.

“We’re excited to be the construction partner for the nbn in the region.”

More than 1.77 million homes and businesses throughout Australia are able to connect to the network with 756,000 already enjoying the benefits of fast and reliable broadband.

NSW continues to lead the way with 568,000 currently able to connect to the nbn™ network with this number growing every day. 

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Notes to editors

• nbn is building a new, fast wholesale broadband network which will be available to all communities across Australia. Our goal is to connect eight million homes and businesses by 2020.
• Fast broadband delivered over the nbn™ network can provide a range of benefits for Australians such as opportunities to work from home, access to online education tools and options for on-demand entertainment.
• Services provided over the nbn™ network will be replacing phone and internet services provided over most of the existing landline networks, including copper and the majority of HFC networks within the fixed line footprint.  Services provided over existing fibre networks (including in-building, health and education networks) and some special and business services may not be affected. To find out if your services will be affected, please contact your current phone or internet provider.  For more information, visit www.nbnco.com.au/switchoff or call 1800 687 626.
• End-user experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ network, depends on the technology over which services are delivered to your premises and some factors outside our control like equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how the end-user’s service provider designs its network