NBN Special Report - Part 1

ARE YOU CONFUSED?

The National Broadband Network (NBN) is coming to St Huberts Island

On 20 October 2014, NBN Co announced that 38 suburbs involving 57,000 homes on the Central Coast are earmarked for the next roll-out of the NBN using their “new” fibre to the node technology (FTTN) - St Huberts Island is one of them.

A visit to the NBN website shows that currently (December 2014) “Groundworks are underway to prepare this area for the NBN”. They also say that they “… will provide more information as works progress”, but it will take a while to happen for 57,000 homes!

If you're confused about the National Broadband Network (NBN) you're not alone.

Internet Retail Service Provider (RSP) iiNet commissioned independent research into the NBN - a report called Familiarity & Understanding of the NBN*. It revealed that only 15% of people surveyed have a good understanding of what the NBN is all about. Not only that, but there's a LOT of confusion surrounding the NBN.

iiNet took a look at some of these survey results and did some “myth-busting” about what the reality of the NBN is all about.

MYTH: Connecting to the NBN is optional.

False. The biggest surprise was that more than two-thirds of broadband users were not aware that moving to NBN fibre is compulsory. This is despite thousands of people nationwide affected by the 23 May 2014 deadline when the first compulsory cut-offs from the traditional copper telephone network took place.

The reality is that the copper network is disconnected 18 months after an area becomes “live” with NBN.

That means that unless you switch to NBN you won't have access to broadband or phone services (unless you switch to a mobile or other wireless solution).

MYTH: The NBN rollout does not affect your existing phone service.

False. The disconnection of the old copper network affects your Internet AND phone service if your premise is by a fibre NBN connection. The NBN rollout will affect both your Internet and landline telephone service. Basically, if you don't switch over to the NBN when it becomes “live” in your area you won't have a phone service 18 months later. The only exception is the 7% of the population who will receive a fixed wireless or satellite connection to the NBN and these premises will retain their copper connection for voice services.

MYTH: Connecting to the NBN will happen automatically.

False. When the NBN becomes live in your area you won't be automatically switched over. You still need to contact your RSP who will work with you to:

* arrange the installation of equipment and

* ensure minimal disruption to your internet's household internet

and phone services.

MYTH: NBN Co is an Internet Service Provider.

False. NBN Co is a “wholly-owned Commonwealth company, a Government Business Enterprise” delivering Australia's open access broadband network. But NBN Co will NOT supply you with internet services. Only Retail Service Providers (RSP) like iiNet, Telstra, Optus and others can do that.

* Research conducted by Hall & Partners Open Mind in April 2014 from a representative online survey of 1200 people (Australian adults in metropolitan areas).

What does all this mean to we denizens of the Island?

Simply, all premises on the Island will be provided with a free-of-charge wall-box connection to the Internet and at a later date, your normal landline phone will be cut off - many months later.

The phone equipment will eventually be removed from the Telephone Exchange at Woy Woy and your phone wires will be used by the NBN, so there will be no more copper landline phones.

You don't need to connect to the Internet unless you want a landline phone again. In this case you will need to connect to the NBN - and pay a Retail Service Provider (RSP) to do this.

Your other option is to have nothing to do with the Internet or the NBN , and use a mobile phone for all your phone calls and internet.

The other change we will see is the placement of three small refrigerator sized boxes beside the three Telstra phone pillars on the Island.

These cabinets - which I'm sure will be a beautiful neutral colour to blend in with the environment - will be about 1150mm high, 850mm wide and 500mm deep (old money - 3' 9” x 2' 9” x 1' 8”).

There is a lot more to tell you and show you about the NBN, how it works, what it will do and mean to you, and how you will use it around your home.

So… keep an eye on The Island News and the Island's website at sthubertsisland.nsw.au for more on the NBN.

The original iiNet web page this information was taken from can be found here.

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