Highest take-up rate in the country linked to small business or home office

New figures released today by NBN Co show that one-in-five residents or businesses that can access the new high-speed National Broadband Network (NBN) at the Willunga First Release Site have had a fibre service activated via their retail service provider.  

This is the highest uptake rate for any NBN Co First Release Site, and is indicative of local demand for high-speed fibre broadband.  NBN Co launched commercial services over the network just five weeks ago following several months of trial service.

Of the 1100 premises in the fibre footprint in Willunga, 250 have had an NBN-based service activated, or almost 23 per cent, with more than 30 orders for services currently being processed.

NBN Co Head of Product Development and Industry Relations, Jim Hassell, said the high take up combined with the apparent high density of small office or home office operators in Willunga could see it becoming a high-tech small business hub.

“There are more than 600 premises with registered business activity within the fibre footprint in Willunga, and we believe this is helping drive take up because of the specific benefits the NBN can bring to small business. In addition to increased download speeds, the NBN offers upload speeds at the wholesale level of up to 40Mbps*. This is important for businesses that need to transfer large files to customers or suppliers, or operate some of their computing services via the internet „cloud?,” Mr Hassell said.

“As consumers increasingly go online for shopping and services, there is a real opportunity for clever small businesses to use the power of the internet to cross borders and access online markets previously out of reach.”  

“South Australia has included digital goals in its Strategic Plan, and the enthusiasm for the NBN indicates it may be well on its way to achieving those goals, including one to increase the proportion of businesses that take orders on line. We would like to thank the local community for their support and for all the local businesses and residents who are spreading the word about the NBN,” Jim Hassell said.

NBN Co released the figures to coincide with an NBN Forum being held in Adelaide today aimed at engaging with a range of stakeholders following the release of NBN Co?s 12 month rollout plan.  

In addition to previously announced rollout projects in Modbury, Prospect and Seaford/McLaren Vale, NBN Co last month announced the rollout is also scheduled to get underway in Aldinga Beach, Port Augusta, Port Elliot, Stirling, Strathalbyn and Yankalilla over the next 12 months. When work started in the next 12 months is completed, the network is expected to be accessible by almost 65,000 premises, not including premises to be added in new estates.

*NBN Co is designing the NBN to be capable of delivering these speeds to NBN Co?s wholesale customers (RSPs). 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 RSPs and how their RSP designs its network to cater for multiple end users.

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