Tuesday, October 19, 2010

84% of Willunga signs up for high speed broadband

High numbers of locals in First Release Site sign up to get connected for superfast broadband

20 October 2010

A high proportion of houses and businesses within the Willunga first release site have signed up for a standard optical fibre installation at no charge.

NBN Co Head of Construction, Patrick Flannigan said locals were keen to ensure their properties were amongst the first in Australia to experience superfast broadband on the National Broadband Network.

“Some 84% of eligible premises within the first release site have signed up to make their property “NBN ready”,” he said.

“Such a strong response shows the local community has overwhelmingly embraced the rollout of the network.”

“Households and businesses that have returned their completed consent form will have a thin fibre optic cable installed by running a cable from the street to their premise.”

“Once the local network goes live, residents with the installed fibre optic cable will be able to choose superfast broadband services from a retail service provider and arrange for their premises to be connected to the NBN. However, by signing up, there is no obligation to order new services from retailers,” said Mr Flannigan.

The National Broadband Network project aims to make high-speed broadband available to all Australians – 93% by fibre, 4% via wireless and 3% via satellite, subject to final network design.

Construction of the network is underway at five locations in mainland Australia, including Willunga. In 2011, construction is scheduled to commence at a further 19 sites across Australia.

Residents can contact NBN Co via the freecall community information line 1800 881 816, email connectme@nbnco.com.au, or by visiting www.nbnco.com.au

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Willunga encircled

The main drag in Willunga is about to be hit with the Broadband roll out.  Aldinga Rd is being criss-crossed as connections are made from side to side.  Orange. warning latticed fences dot the landscape and they are gradually encroaching onto High Street - the main coffee precinct of Willunga.  Today there was a mini black out - the power went down to quarter strength (well at least at our place in Moore St. Makes you wonder if a directional bit went through something important.  Who knows.  The laying of cable seems to have progressed smoothly, with minimal disruption to the public and politeness when confronted by slightly miffed drivers.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Willunga and Community Broadband

Looking at community broadband.

Came across an article on a thought provoking British site for shedding light on Willunga National Broadband Network rollout.

It states:

There are few people today that would dispute that future connectivity will be based on fibre; the questions are of timing and how the transition can be managed. Today there are two main intellectual camps – those that tend towards a top-down national roll-out and those that see a bottom-up locally led market transition. These thought processes imply three scenarios which may play out as next generation projects emerge in the UK:

* Da Wo (“Big Me”). This describes the development of a traditional vertically integrated operator willing to build NGA networks alone. This is essentially what occurred in Japan.


* Islands of Connectivity. A scenario where projects develop largely in isolation with few links with other projects. This is the traditional municipal network approach.


* The Patchwork Quilt. Local projects develop but exist within a framework which ensures a consistent interface to the market.

To read more see http://bit.ly/cXLOIp

Makes me wonder what is happening in the other pilot communities - Brunswick, Vic;  Townsville, Qld;  Armidale, NSW;  Minnamurra and Kiama Downs NSW

Friday, April 9, 2010

Willunga and the National Broadband Network

On March 2, 2010 it was announced that Willunga has been chosen as a pilot site for the roll out of the National Broadband Network. The purpose of this blog is to track announcements of NBN related to Willunga and to explore some questions like what does NBN mean for Willunga, its people, its economy and its future.

For more info on the national broadband network visit http://www.nbnco.com.au/ ;
NBN First release sites see http://www.nbnco.com.au/firstreleasesites/ ;
for a map of the area to be covered see http://www.nbnco.com.au/firstreleasesites/first-release-areas-details.aspx#willunga

As time permits I'll track down articles and post links to them here.