The NSW Central Coast is the latest location to switch on to superfast broadband and civic leaders are already looking to the National Broadband Network to increase the prospects for teleworking in the region.

The NBN was formally switched on today in central Gosford with the fibre optic cables now passing more than 2300 homes and businesses in the city.

The network will pass a further 5000 premises in the coming months in areas including Springfield, Point Frederick and East Gosford.

Households can sign up to NBN packages currently on offer from four internet service providers: iiNet, Internode, Telstra and Westnet. There are a range of great prices and packages which take advantage of the fast speeds and great capacity available over the NBN.

Among those eagerly anticipating the arrival of the NBN is Regional Development Australia Central Coast, which will play host to a week-long event aimed at promoting tele-commuting in May. Central Coast Telework Week will include establishing provisional smart-working hubs in sites at Wyong and Gosford.^

"The NBN will provide an important boost for businesses in the region," said Andrew Roach, CEO of Regional Development Australia Central Coast.

"We also expect that over time it will lead to a significant rise in telework activity in the area as locals jump on their computers to do their work rather than jumping in the car to make the arduous trek to Sydney or Newcastle each day."

Research from business software firm MYOB reveals that almost three in five small-and medium-sized businesses now have employees who telework, cutting down on commuting so they can spend more time with their family.+

Central Coast resident Alex Clark is a senior financial accountant for an investment group who has been telecommuting for the past 18 months, seeing benefits to both his productivity and his personal life.

"The NBN is going to let me work from home as I would in the office. I can stay in touch via high definition webcam, VOIP calls and instant message chats and access my office's network, transforming the way I work," Mr. Clark said.^#

"In places like the Central Coast we're in need of better internet. I believe the NBN is going to help transform the way we work and help us strike a better work/life balance."

Construction of the NBN is planned to be commenced or completed for more than 100,000 Central Coast homes and businesses by mid-2015 including the majority of Gosford as well as communities including The Entrance, Long Jetty, Bateau Bay, Erina and Erina Heights.

Construction is planned to have commenced or be completed for more than 1,010,700 homes and businesses across NSW - and 3.5 million, or a third of the nation's premises - by mid-2015.

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Notes to Editors

The National Broadband Network aims to deliver fast, affordable and reliable broadband to every Australian home and business by 2021

°   Check www.nbnco.com.au for the latest list of service providers available.

*   NBN Co is designing the NBN to be capable of delivering these speeds to NBN Co's wholesale customers (telephone and internet service providers). Speeds actually achieved by retail customers (end users) will depend on a number of factors including the quality of their equipment and in-premises connection, the broadband plans offered by their ISP and how their service provider designs its network to cater for multiple end users

^    For more information in Central Coast Telework Week see: http://www.rdacc.org.au/central-coast-telework-week-to-be-held-at-central-coast-leagues-club-and-wyong-race-club/blg70 and http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/telework-hubs-will-mean-taking-the-long-morning-commute-just-wont-compute/story-fngr8h0p-1226617423448

+   MYOB research findings: http://myob.com.au/myob/news-1258090872838?articleId=1257830837509&year=2013

^#           Access to your work network will depend on factors outside our control like your organisations' IT policy and infrastructure. Your experience including the speeds actually achieved over the NBN depends on some factors outside our control like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how your service provider designs its network.

 

 

 

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