Inner-city suburbs will have NBN within 12 months
CAIRNS businesses are eagerly anticipating the introduction of the National Broadband Network, after it was announced yesterday 5700 homes and businesses across 12 inner-city Cairns suburbs would have access to the service in about a year.
Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy Minister Senator Stephen Conroy and Labor Senator for Queensland Jan McLucas confirmed yesterday that Cairns suburbs including Cairns City, Parramatta Park, Portsmith and Bungalow were earmarked for NBN connection on newly released fibre construction maps.
Talk to The Mac sales manager Victor Da Silva said access to the network couldn’t come fast enough for the Grafton St store.
“For us it would be a huge benefit, because we have three stores locally and we have to transfer stock between them,” he said.
“Our phone system is linked via the internet and currently our broadband isn’t capable of keeping up with our demand. The NBN will change that dramatically.”
Mr da Silva said he believed introduction of the network was overdue.
“It is happening too slowly. Having it here in the CBD will be great but what about the suburbs, Edmonton, Palm Cove, Port Douglas? We’re really spread out and the quicker we can get people connecting, the better off everyone will be. If it happens at the click of a button, that’s life changing.”
Followmont Transport operations manager in Cairns Paul Boschetti agreed the NBN would be a welcome addition.
“Internet is a big part of our business and some steps could be faster. If we’re quicker, it means the customers get faster service,” he said.
Under the Federal Government’s $37.4 billion NBN project, more than 70 per cent of regional and rural Australia will receive fibre to the home, with 429,000 Queensland homes and business to be connected by 2015.
NEW CAIRNS.COM.AU COMMENT POLICY
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the
condition that they may be edited. Comments submitted without a full name and suburb/location will
not be considered for publication. Please read our full comment policy and publication guidelines.
Share this article
Good for business: Talk to the Mac sales manager Victor de Silva says the NBN is long overdue and will benefit local business. Picture: MARC McCORMACK.
