NBN expects many more customers this year

More than 4000 Australians were connected to the National Broadband Network (NBN) in 2011 and more are expected this year as new service providers begin offering internet plans to customers.

NBN Co Ltd, the company set up by the federal government to deliver the $36 billion infrastructure project, said on Monday it was pleased with the connection numbers now that the high speed network has been rolled past 18,200 homes and businesses premises.

While connection take-up appears small in comparison to activations, a spokeswoman said this was because a number of internet service providers still had to bring their plans to market.

"We expect that to improve in the new year as more of the retail service providers put their commercial plans in the market and do their marketing," she said.

As well, potential users on existing internet contracts were expected to migrate to the NBN over time.

Last year, 2315 premises began using the NBN fibre optic cable infrastructure.

And 1700 premises in rural Australia began receiving broadband through an interim satellite service launched in June.

NBN head of industry relations Jim Hassell said the biggest challenge facing the company was rolling out the network fast enough to meet demand.

"A crucial task for 2012 will be to educate and inform Australians about the principles that dictate the rollout," he said in a statement.

The NBN is due to be extended to another 500,000 premises in 2012 and the first rural communities to use a fixed wireless service will be connected by mid-year.

The project is expected to be completed by 2021, when all Australians should have access to fibre optic, fixed wireless or satellite high speed broadband services.

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