Wa’s raw nbn deal set to continue

Sarah MartinThe West Australian WA households face having some of the worst internet connections in the country, with just 70,000 of the State’s 1.2 million homes in line to get the best

service on offer under the National Broadband Network. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, who launched the new fibre to the kerb service in Sydney yesterday, met WA Innovation Minister

Dave Kelly in Perth last week to discuss the proposed NBN rollout in the State, where 400,000 properties are yet to be connected. Mr Kelly was told that only 70,000 of the Federal

Government’s pledged one million new premises to be connected to the kerb service would be in WA, meaning only about 5 per cent of homes would have the best available technology when the

rollout is complete. WA will also be left with the highest amount of fibre to the node technology of all the States, with about 61 per cent of homes on the inferior technology, compared with

39 per cent in NSW, 43 per cent in Queensland and 32 per cent in Victoria. Mr Kelly said he had urged Senator Fifeld to increase the amount of fibre to the kerb in WA. He accused the

Federal Government of being deaf to the complaints about the old copper network. “They are only offering fibre to the kerb where it is cheaper for NBN Co to do so, confirming once again that

the Federal Liberal Government are making decisions about the technology based on what is cheapest, not on what provides the best service to the community,” Mr Kelly said. “Western

Australians deserve better.” Senator Fifeld said that any claim that WA was at a disadvantage was “baseless” with everyone having access to speeds of at least 25mbps regardless of the

technology, and the State’s rollout further advanced than in the Eastern States. “NBN is using a range of technologies to ensure all West Australians can have fast, affordable internet

service as quickly as possible,” he said. “Through the use of different technologies NBN will be completed by 2020 which is six to eight years sooner and $30 billion less than the approach

of Dave Kelly’s Federal Labor colleagues.” He said NBN Co determined which technologies were most cost-effective on an area by area basis to “minimise peak funding, optimise economic

returns, and deliver broadband upgrades sooner.” GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails