Fibre services on the National Broadband Network (NBN) have been switched on in Hobart, Tasmania. Around 1800 premises in the area can now sign up for NBN services.
Construction for the NBN has now also commenced in Kingston, St Helens, Launceston, Bellerive and Somerset and is expected to be completed this year.
Hobart is the fifth site in Tasmania to be switched on to the NBN, with the state to be the first fully connected state or territory to be connected to the network by mid-2015.
Mark Kelleher, secretary of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts in Tasmania, has said Tasmania has long suffered from the “tyranny of distance”, with residents feeling cut off from the rest of Australia.
However, with the introduction of the NBN, Kelleher says several opportunities are opening up for businesses in Tasmania.
David Bartlett, former Tasmanian premier, has also said the NBN will be a driver of digital disruption, but businesses aren’t ready for the opportunities it will bring.
Follow Stephanie McDonald on Twitter: @stephmcdonald0
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU