The NBN C. Business Fibre Zone initiative has been welcomed by TasICT – the Peak Industry Body for the Information, Communication and Technology sector.
The Federal Government has announced a plan to make point-to-point (P2P) fibre on demand services available businesses across 240 zones including 85 in regional Australia. Businesses in Devonport are set to receive access to Enterprise Ethernet – NBN’s fastest wholesale product – under the plan, with Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie businesses able to access cheaper wholesale pricing on enterprise grade products. Installation fees will also be waived.
TasICT Chief Executive Officer Steve Adermann said “It’s great that businesses outside the mainland capital city centres will be able to access to CBD zone wholesale prices for the first time with potential annual savings of more than $1,000”. “The upload and download (symmetrical) speeds of up to one gigabit per second promised by the Enterprise Ethernet products will present a great opportunity for business innovation in Tasmania”. He added, “Hundreds of businesses across Tasmania can expect to migrate from the lower grade residential network to the Enterprise Ethernet platform which provides options for prioritised bandwidth, 24/7 support and symmetrical wholesale speeds suitable for data intensive applications”.
NBN Co will spend $50m to expand the Business Fibre Zones by co-investing with state and local governments. It’s anticipated the boost in digital capability will help businesses create economic growth and create more jobs.
Mr Adermann believes the NBN Co Business Fibre Zone initiative may even attract new businesses to the state.