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NBN updates rollout map for most Australians

Australians are now able to enter their address to see when they will be connected to the NBN, unless they are on HFC.
Written by Chris Duckett, Contributor
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When the NBN is going to get the NBN, according to the NBN rollout map.

(Image: NBN)

The company responsible for rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) across Australia has made good on its promise to have a searchable rollout map by the end of 2016 that will allow Australians to find out when they can connect to the NBN.

The updated Check Your Address page began providing information on when users could connect to the NBN on Tuesday afternoon, unless the address is within a HFC area. It is expected that these areas will be added at some point in 2017.

While the updated map allows Australians to see when addresses are in the planning stage, unless the addresses is within the satellite or fixed-wireless footprint, users are not informed whether they are connected via fibre-to-the-node, fibre-to-the-distribution-point, fibre-to-the-basement, or fibre-to-the-premises.

Speaking at Senate Estimates in October, NBN CEO Bill Morrow said the new rollout map provides a higher level of transparency than its previously used three-year construction plan.

"As far as individual areas on the three-year map, we have made it perfectly clear that that is fluid and will change," Morrow said at the time. "The three-year plan that you referred to is when construction will commence, not necessarily when they'll be able to order a service.

"We've heard from this committee that you're looking for greater transparency, we know your constituents are interested in this, and so by the end of the year we'll have that available."

In August, NBN removed all areas from its build prep map that were not slated to get fibre-to-the-premises technology.

The company said that since non-FttP fixed-line connections do not require disturbance of streets and driveways, residents do not need lengthy notification.

Also on Tuesday, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released a survey where over 40 percent of business respondents said the process of connecting to the NBN had adversely impacted the functioning of those businesses.

The ACMA said only 22 percent of businesses said the NBN connection process was smooth, while businesses said the most common complaint was "ongoing service issues".

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