NBN

National Broadband Network Project > Tasmania

Launceston

Tasmania’s northern city of Launceston sits at the juncture of the North Esk, South Esk, and Tamar rivers, and was named after the United Kingdom town of Launceston, Cornwall.

Tasmania has been chosen as an NBN test site for the National Broadband Network (NBN).

As part of formulating and testing construction techniques, the government plans to:

“fast-track negotiations with the Tasmanian Government, as suggested by the Panel of Experts, to build upon its National Broadband Network proposal to begin the rollout of a FTTP network and next generation wireless services in Tasmania as early as July.”

After a tender process, Aurora Energy, was chosen to roll-out backhaul fibre between points of interconnect in Tasmania, as well as fibre to the premises in conjunction with Tasmania NBN Co (TNBN Co).

The Tasmanian test sites will be rolled out in three stages. The first stage covers the towns of Midway Point, Scottsdale and Smithton, with intentions to deliver the first NBN services beginning July from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Internode, iiNet and iPrimus.

Second stage towns include Sorell, Deloraine, George Town, St Helens, Triabunna, Kingston Beach and South Hobart.

90,000 premises will be connected in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, as part of the roll-out’s third stage.

Tasmania’s northern city of Launceston sits at the juncture of the North Esk, South Esk, and Tamar rivers, and was named after the United Kingdom town of Launceston, Cornwall.

Tasmanian NBN Company (TNBN Co), a wholly owned subsidiary of NBN Co, will roll out and operate fibre to approximately 30,000 homes in Launceston as part of the Stage 3 Tasmanian NBN test sites.

Despite poor take-up of stage 1 trial NBN services, opt-out legislation passed by state Parliament in early 2011 will ensure greater availability of services at stage 2 and 3 sites.