Upgrades to nbn Fixed Wireless network deliver improvements for thousands as nbn proposes further enhancements to speeds
Today, nbn announced that the delivery of the upgrades to the nbn® Fixed Wireless network has reached a major milestone with the first 16,000 homes and businesses across nbn Fixed Wireless areas now able to benefit from more speed at the busiest times.
Those first to benefit from completed Fixed Wireless upgrades are spread across areas of the South Coast of NSW and Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
These first areas are planned to be followed by dozens more over the coming months and year. By the end of 2024, more than 750,000 homes and business across Australia are intended to be able to benefit from the upgrades to the nbn Fixed Wireless network.
An additional 3,200 home and businesses across the South Coast of NSW and Sunshine Coast in Queensland areas that were previously only able to access nbn services via the nbn® Sky Muster® satellite service, are now able to access to the nbn Fixed Wireless network for the first time.
nbn also announced some proposed enhancements to its overall upgrade plan including changes to the two proposed higher-speed plans along with a boost to its most popular existing plan – Fixed Wireless Plus.
Under the proposal, the existing nbn Fixed Wireless Plus wholesale plan would increase from maximum potential information rate of up to 75/10Mbps to up to 100/20 Mbps ** ***. This change would apply to all Fixed Wireless Plus services across the nbn Fixed Wireless network footprint.
Subject to consultation, nbn aims to introduce the enhancements to the nbn Fixed Wireless Plus plan in early 2024. nbn Fixed Wireless Plus is currently the most popular nbn Fixed Wireless plan with more than 60 per cent of homes and business in the nbn Fixed Wireless footprint selecting this plan.
For the two additional wholesale high-speed tiers that nbn plans to launch, nbn is proposing improvements that would result in speeds close to double those originally planned.
Fixed Wireless Home Fast is planned to increase from 100-130 / 8-20Mbps to 200-250 / 8-20Mbps** ***. This plan is predicted to be available to around 90 per cent of the nbn fixed wireless coverage area.
Fixed Wireless Superfast would increase from 200-325 / 8-20Mbps to 400 / 10-40Mbps** ***, available to around 80 per cent of the nbn fixed wireless coverage area.
If consultation is successful, nbn plans to make these two enhanced speed tiers available from mid-2024.
Homes and businesses may also need to update their nbn devices at their premises to get the benefits of the proposed high-speed plans. nbn will contact those impacted directly. Not all devices will need to be replaced.
The upgrades are being enabled by a $750 million investment program – $480 million from the Australian Government and $270 million from nbn – in the nbn Fixed Wireless network. It is a part of nbn’s commitment to delivering better broadband for homes and businesses across regional and remote Australia.
In addition to the nbn Fixed Wireless upgrades, nbn is delivering full fibre upgrades* via nbn Fibre to the Premises and making uncapped data (subject to fair use policy and shaping) usage available on the nbn Sky Muster Plus satellite network to millions of homes and businesses across regional Australia.
Jason Ashton, nbn Chief Technology Officer, Wireless Networks, said:
“We know that homes and businesses across regional Australia are using more devices and demanding more data and speed than ever before, that is why we continue to invest and upgrade the nbn network.
“We are using the cutting-edge technology to boost the performance and range of the nbn Fixed Wireless network. This helps enable a smoother experience, even at the busiest times and supports multiple device usage, with less buffering* ***.
“The upgrades aim to make it easier for people to work remotely, access digital services and entertainment and connect with loved ones and do the online activities and services that are most important to them***.
“Following extensive testing of upgraded areas of the network, we believe we can deliver even better nbn services to consumers on the Fixed Wireless network, which is why we are considering new options that are aimed at improving the speeds that customers can access on the upgraded nbn Fixed Wireless network.
“Our Fixed Wireless services are available from a range of Australian phone and internet providers. We also offer professionally installed nbn equipment to providers, so customers can be reassured that if something happens with your nbn equipment, we will come and fix it.”
Customers can find out more about the upgrades by visiting nbn.com.au/FixedWirelessUpgrades.
Notes to Editors
- The nbn Fixed Wireless is used to connect homes and businesses that are mainly in expanding regional areas, to the nbn network.
- With a nbn Fixed Wireless connection, the nbn broadband signal travels from the transmission tower to an antenna installed on your roof.
- Interviews are available on request.
- Supporting material, including images, audio and video content are available on request.
Footnotes
* Eligibility criteria for most (but not all) full fibre upgrades will includes being designated by nbn as a simple premises and retailers placing an order for a nbn powered plan based on an eligible wholesale speed tier.
** These are nbn wholesale speed tiers which nbn provides to retail phone and internet providers. Attainable wholesale speeds are subject to the rollout of network upgrades and some premises will require nbn to complete upgrades to the equipment at the premises.
*** Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn network, depends on the nbn network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside our control (like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans, signal reception and how your service provider designs its network). Speeds may be impacted by the number of concurrent users on nbn’s Fixed Wireless network, including during busy periods.