It’s time. After much administrative arseing around, political double-speak, and general tapping of feet to pass the time, NBN Co has recommitted itself to the task of building the nation’s fast fibre network, this time with fibre-to-the-node as its design. The government’s broadband behemoth outed 140 new suburbs that will commence building FTTN services within a year. Are you on the list?
In total, 200,000 homes and businesses will join the FTTN-powered NBN over the next 12 months. The NBN Co is calling it the “next phase” in its trial of FTTN technology to see if a network built running fibre to street-side cabinets (or nodes), with the last mile covered by Telstra’s existing copper network to the home.
Sadly, today’s news is bittersweet if you live anywhere but New South Wales or Queensland: those will be the only two states getting the FTTN NBN from today’s announcement. 155,000 homes and businesses will be passed in New South Wales as a result of the announcement, while an additional 89,500 will be passed in Queensland.
NBN Co has assured that it has begun planning and construction work for 37,000 other homes and businesses around the country, but hasn’t named them specifically.
Here’s the list of places set to get the FTTN NBN in the next year:
New South Wales
Lake Macquarie
Belmont North, Belmont South, Belmont, Blacksmiths, Croudace Bay, Eleebana, Floraville, Jewells, Marks Point, Mount Hutton, Pelican, Tingira Heights, Valentine, Windale, Argenton, Barnsley, Boolaroo, Booragul, Cameron Park, Edgeworth, Holmesville, Killingworth, Marmong Point, Minmi, Seahampton, Speers Point, Teralba, Warners Bay, West Wallsend, Bonnells Bay, Brightwaters, Cooranbong, Dora Creek, Eraring, Mandalong, Martinsville, Mirrabooka, Morisset Park, Morisset, Silverwater, Sunshine.
51,000 in total
Central Coast
Budgewoi Peninsula, Canton Beach, Charmhaven, Gorokan, Hamlyn Terrace, Kanwal, Lake Haven, Norah Head, Toukley, Warnervale, Woongarrah, Bensville, Blackwall, Booker Bay, Box Head, Daleys Point, Davistown, Empire Bay, Ettalong Beach, Green Point, Horsfield Bay, Killcare Heights, Killcare, Kincumber, Koolewong, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Pretty Beach, Saratoga, St Huberts Island, Umina Beach, Woy Woy Bay, Woy Woy, Yattalunga, Tuggerawong, Wadalba, Wyongah, Noraville.
57,000 in total
Newcastle
Adamstown, Bar Beach, Broadmeadow, Carrington, Cooks Hill, Hamilton East, Hamilton South, Hamilton, Islington, Kooragang, Maryville, Merewether Heights, Merewether, Newcastle East, Newcastle West, Newcastle, The Hill, The Junction, Tighes Hill, Wickham.
47,000 in total
Queensland
Wide Bay Burnett
Gympie, Jones Hill, Monkland, Southside, Victory Heights, Ashfield, Avenell Heights, Bundaberg Central, Bundaberg East, Bundaberg North, Bundaberg South, Bundaberg West, Gooburrum, Kalkie, Kensington, Kepnock, Millbank, Norville, Rubyanna, Svensson Heights, Thabeban, Walkervale.
40,000 in total
Greater Brisbane and Moreton Bay
Bray Park, Brendale, Cashmere, Joyner, Lawnton, Strathpine, Warner, Bellmere, Caboolture South, Caboolture, Elimbah, Moodlu, Morayfield, Upper Caboolture, Wamuran, Banksia Beach, Bellara, Bongaree, Welsby, White Patch, Woorim.
49,500 in total
NBN Co has also updated its coverage maps as a result of the announcement, which you can check out here.