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Digital Inclusion

South Australian town backbone installation finished

By Pia Rufino | 3 May 2011

The government announced early this year the completion of 146-kilometre fibre backbone link to South Australian town—Victor Harbor— and other rural locations as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN) roll-out.

The link has been developed as part of the Gillard Government’s Regional Backbone Blackspots Programme plan aimed at delivering 6000 km of fibre backbone across regional Australia, in a move that the government claims will benefit nearly 400,000 citizens.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the Victor Harbor link along with the completed Perth to Geraldton link that was opened earlier has been delivered by the government on time and on budget.

“This new backbone link means more choice, greater competition and better value services. It means faster and cheaper broadband for families and small businesses throughout this part of regional South Australia,” he stressed.

“I look forward to seeing the other links across Australia completed this year,” Conroy said.

According to the media release, Nextgen Networks is currently in the process of connecting retail service providers to the new link.

Amanda Rishworth, Austalian Labor Party member for the associated area of Kingston, said the completion of the link was the first step in the delivery of the NBN in South Australia.

She added that around 27,000 citizens were expected to benefit from the introduction of new backbone services.

“The fibre backbone link to Victor Harbor will allow retail service providers to offer faster and better value broadband services in Victor Harbor and other regional communities of Goolwa, Strathalbyn, Port Elliot, Willunga, McLaren Vale and Mount Barker,” she said.

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