With the National Broadband Network (NBN) expected to reach a peak in its rollout in 2016, some areas around Australia are already connected to the network via fibre-to-the-premises, fixed wireless and an interim satellite service.
The NBN was announced in April 2009, with an initial cost of $43 billion. The first three towns to be connected to the network were located in Tasmania, the testing ground for the network.
Trials of the network are still ongoing, with NBN Co offering a free trial of its fixed wireless network for six months from April 2012 in Armidale, Tamworth and Toowoomba.
"The trial period for the fixed wireless service is designed to verify satisfactory customer experience of the new service prior to it becoming fully commercial in October this year," NBN Co told Computerworld Australia.
While NBN Co is not charging RSPs to access the fixed wireless service, NBN Co said service providers may incur costs in setting up the retail product and it was up to individual companies as to whether these costs were passed on to customers or not.
"NBN Co does not impose restrictions during the trial period on whether service providers charge end-users or not," the company said.
Computerworld Australia lists the areas where construction for the NBN has been completed and residents can sign up for NBN plans.
Which NBN plan is best?
Queensland
Townsville
Townsville, which was part of the first release sites on the mainland, had been marred by a mini tornado and there were disputes over where to locate the initial fibre rollout. However, the NBN was switched on in the area in September 2011.
It was the fourth site on mainland Australia to be connected to the NBN, with around 3100 premises to be covered by the NBN and 60.8 per cent of residents consenting to an NBN connection.
Brisbane
Maroochydore
Other regions
Toowoomba
Toowoomba was part of the second set of release sites for the NBN, which was announced in July 2010. The rollout in Toowoomba underwent a delay due to protracted negotiations with the $11 billion deal between NBN Co and Telstra. It was also reported that cable for the NBN had been mauled by rats.
The network was switched on in September 2011. Residents were given a free trial of the fixed wireless network for six months in January this year. NBN Co announced in June this year that 12 retail service providers were offering NBN plans in the area.
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New South Wales
Armidale
Armidale was part of the first NBN trial sites, with an area in west Armidale home to live trials which connected around 2900 premises. The area was also the first mainland Australian site to be connected to the NBN, with residents given a free trial of the fixed wireless network for six months in January this year.
Services for the NBN launched in May 2011, with M2 Telecommunications’ first customer on the NBN connected in Armidale via its wholly owned subsidiary, Southern Cross Telco.
The Armidale NBN footprint covers 4882 premises, including the University of New England, with 87.8 per cent of residents consenting to an NBN connection.
Hunter Valley and greater Newcastle
Kiama
Some residents in the Kiama area switched on to the NBN in July 2011, with Kiama part of the first release sites. The Kiama Downs/Minnamurra region on the south coast of NSW covers around 2350 premises.
NBN Co recently told Computerworld Australia take-up in the area was 38 per cent, with 76.3 per cent of residents initially consenting to be connected to the network.
Sydney
Mittagong
Mullumbimby
Port Macquarie
Tamworth
Tamworth was one of the five first release sites for the NBN.
Wagga Wagga
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Australian Capital Territory
Canberra
Victoria
Cranbourne
Melbourne
Brunswick, near Melbourne's CBD, was the first metropolitan area in Australia to be switched on to the NBN in August 2011. The Brunswick NBN footprint covers 2689 premises. The area has recorded one of the lowest consent rates to be connected to the network, with 50.4 per cent of premises consenting to an NBN connection.
It was also the first area in Victoria to be connected to the network, with Telstra responsible for rolling out infrastructure for roughly 2600 premises in the suburb. The first NBN-enabled caf? was also connected in Brunswick.
Mornington Peninsula
Sale
Ballarat
Ballarat is the largest regional town in western Victoria and was one of the first areas to be announced in August 2011 to receive the NBN via fixed wireless in the less populated areas of the town.
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South Australia
Adelaide
Internode recently announced its first paying customer in Adelaide on the NBN in Lakeside, with Lakeside also the first new housing development in South Australia to be connected to the NBN.
Willunga
Willunga, which was the fifth and final NBN first release site, had its first trial customer signed up to the network in June 2011. The official network was switched on in September 2011.
The first release of the fibre network covered 940 premises, with 90.9 per cent of premises consenting to a connection – one of the highest rates. NBN Co says take-up in the area is 35 per cent.
Western Australia
Geraldton
Perth
Geraldton is one of the most recent areas to be switched on to the NBN, with the area connecting to the fixed wireless network last week. The area is serviced by two fixed wireless sites, with around 354 premises able to connect to the NBN in the area at speeds of up to 12Mbps. Once the fixed wireless rollout in Geraldton is complete, around 1300 premises will be able to access the NBN.
Geraldton will also receive the NBN via fibre, which will cover nearly 13,000 premises.
Tasmania
Tasmania was the testing bed for the NBN and where everything kicked off.
In August 2010, Smithton, Scottsdale and Midway Point were the first places in Australia to be hooked up to the NBN, with 4000 premises in the areas taking part in early testing of the NBN.
It took 18 months for the first paying customer to sign up for the network in Triabunna.
Northern Territory
No services are yet available in the Northern Territory.