Delivering Australia’s digital future
Today we released our 2022 Corporate Plan. This plan outlines the significant investments we have made in the network to date and sets out our plan to continuing to evolve the network over the next four years.
It is also an articulation of our overall purpose and strategy – laying out our progress and plans, from enhancing customer experience to how we collaborate with industry; to how we operate in an environmentally and financially sustainable way.
Last year, our commitment to underpin Australia’s digital future was made clear as we unveiled the next phase of network investment: a $4.5 billion commitment to advance the reach and capability of our network, enhance the digitisation of businesses; and deepen connectivity support for rural and regional communities.
A gamechanger in delivering enhanced broadband at the wholesale level, improved customer experience, and greater connectivity to more Australians than ever, this year’s Corporate Plan is characterised by evolution and progress in terms of the nation’s digital backbone.
As part of this commitment, I am delighted to confirm 300,000 more homes and businesses will become eligible for a fibre upgrade.
By pushing fibre deeper into communities, eligible customers living and working in homes and businesses currently served by Fibre to the Node (FTTN) can access Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) upgrades, giving them access to our highest speed plans if ordered.
These additions take the number of fibre extensions announced so far to 1.4 million – a significant advance toward our goal of two million premises by the end of 2023.
The upgrades will also improve network performance and customer satisfaction, decrease ongoing maintenance costs, improve the customer offering for our retail partners, and increase the value of this critical infrastructure for our nation.
That value has been demonstrated in spades throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The nbn™ network was, and continues to be, there when Australia needs it most – rising to the challenge of handling a surge in data demand triggered by a seismic societal shift as people were required to work, study, access entertainment, and connect with loved ones, from home.
Our network investment plans also closely align with the objectives of a revised Federal Government Statement of Expectations, which come into effect today.
An outline of the Federal Government’s expectations for the company and the nbn™ network, the new statement makes clear our role is to:
- Maximise the economic and social benefits of the nbn™ network
- Operate as a sustainable commercial business
- Generate sufficient revenue that would allow continued prudent and appropriate levels of investment in the network to meet the current and future needs of Australians, wherever they live.
The statement goes on to say we will achieve these objectives by ‘reliably and affordably meeting the current and future broadband needs of households and businesses, including in regional Australia, fostering productivity and innovation, and supporting our goal for Australia to be a leading digital economy and society by 2030.’
We welcome this refreshed Statement of Expectations and look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government to achieve these goals.
While the nbn™ network will always evolve in the months and years ahead, one thing will always remain constant and that is our commitment to lift the digital capability of Australia.