The NBN rollout is providing broadband services with peak wholesale speeds of at least 25 Mbps in all regional areas through fixed-line, fixed wireless and satellite services. In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on improving both satellite and fixed wireless services in regional areas.
There are now 2,200 fixed wireless towers and 13,000 fixed wireless antennas providing coverage for 250,000 km2 and two Sky Muster satellites launched in 2015 that cover 7 million km2.
NBN Co's new investment plan will provide upgrades to Fibre to the Node (FTTN) services in many regional areas, with FTTN premises unable to access this upgrade eligible for a $50 million line speed uplift program to improve in-home speeds.
The upgrade plans will provide access to gigabit speeds for all premises on Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) technology in regional areas, and for 85 regional Business Fibre Zones (with $50 million available to create additional zones across Australia).
NBN Co has also created a $300 million fund to co-invest with the Australian Government, state and territory governments and councils to deliver access to higher-speed wholesale broadband services over the NBN network to households and businesses in regional and remote areas of Australia.
The fund is expected to assist in transitioning more regional areas from fixed wireless or satellite to fixed-line access technology.