Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield, announced that residents in Redcliffe Peninsula (QLD) will be the first in Australia to receive nbn’s cable broadband service, when the network goes live in June 2016.
The announcement follows a successful test of hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) in Redcliffe, which achieved wholesale network speeds of up to 100Mbps download and 40Mbps upload, with an average speed of 84/33Mbps.
Around 18,000 Redcliffe Peninsula residents will gain access to the nbn by mid-2016.
The use of HFC to deliver superfast broadband forms part of the Government’s multi-technology mix approach to building the network, which uses the most appropriate technology to deliver the nbn sooner and at less cost to taxpayers.
The technology mix includes fibre to the node, fibre to the premises, hybrid fibre coaxial, fixed wireless and satellite.
HFC was installed in many locations across Australia to deliver pay TV services, but is now being used internationally as an efficient means for delivering superfast internet access.
In Australia the nbn is incorporating elements of the HFC network and upgrading electronics to deliver better broadband to millions of households.
The nbn rollout is gathering momentum in Queensland with more than 382,000 homes and businesses now able to order an nbn service and more than 152,000 homes and businesses already connected.
Nationally, more than 1.8million premises are able to order an nbn service and more than 860,000 now have an active nbn service.
The network is scheduled for completion in 2020.
