The NBN’s fixed wireless and long term satellite services will be upgraded to provide broadband speeds of 25 megabits per second download and 5 megabits per second upload (25/5 Mbps).

“This means that people living in regional and remote Australia will be able to access significantly faster speeds than what is available now through ADSL services,” Senator Conroy said.

“This upgrade represents a doubling of speeds for the NBN’s fixed wireless and satellite services.

“It will lead to improved education and health services for regional and remote Australia, as well as greater opportunities for small businesses and agriculture. It will allow high-quality video conferencing, making it easier to work remotely.

“For too long, people living in regional and rural Australia have had to put up with slow, unreliable internet services—if they could get a connection at all.

“The Government’s investment in the NBN means all Australians, no matter where they live, will have access to faster broadband services. Like water and electricity, the Gillard Government sees fast broadband as an essential utility that should be made available to all Australians.”

“The price for customers for the 25/5 Mbps service on fixed wireless and satellite will be the same as that charged for 25/5 Mbps fibre services at around $40 per month.

“The Government is delivering on its commitment of uniform national wholesale pricing for broadband services. This means people living in regional and remote Australia will pay the same prices for NBN services as people in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.

“The 25/5 Mbps service will be available by mid-2013 on the fixed wireless network and from the start of operation of the long term satellite service in 2015.”

For more information about the NBN rollout visit 

www.nbnco.com.au/rollout

www.nbnco.com.au/rollout