Projects enhancing regional connectivity
New projects – co-funded by nbn, government and business – will help enhance connectivity across the country.
Last updated: 5 April 2024
Since first publishing this article in 2021, some changes have been made to projects and, therefore, this article. Current projects are listed below.
Customers across regional, rural and remote Australia are set to benefit from enhanced connectivity over the nbn® network, thanks to projects co-funded under the first round of the Regional Connectivity Program (RCP).
An Australian government initiative, the RCP sees funding allocated to ‘place-based’ telecommunications infrastructure projects that help solve local connectivity issues.
And in great news for those living and working in some of the country’s regional, rural and remote areas, nbn projects have been approved for RCP funding.
nbn will also contribute funds towards the important projects as part of its continued commitment to providing regional Australians with access to high-speed broadband.*
“This is a significant outcome for rural and remote Australia and comes at a time when it has never been more important for residents and businesses to be able to access those benefits made available through improved connectivity,” says Gavin Williams, Chief Development Officer, Regional and Remote at nbn.
So, what exactly are these projects, where are they based, and who will benefit?
The projects
Alpha, Queensland
Project value: $4,150,883
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Barcaldine Regional Council, nbn
Known as the ‘Gateway to the West’, Alpha (Iningai Country) is located in Outback Queensland and is famous for its petrified wood and murals.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Alpha change to FTTP.
Through this project, eligible premises in Alpha will gain access to the highest available wholesale speed plans via services over the nbn network, with a choice of speeds, including plans offering wholesale download speeds close to 1Gbps.*†
Augathella and Morven, Queensland
Project value: $6,052,190
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Murweh Shire Council, nbn
Located in Outback Queensland, Augathella and Morven (Bidjara Country) are towns in Murweh Shire, which is becoming a key centre for industry development.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Augathella and Morven change to FTTP.
Eligible local businesses will also be able to access business nbn® Enterprise Ethernet, which offers symmetrical wholesale speeds of close to 1Gbps.*†
Geeveston, Tasmania
Project value: $2,229,606
Co-funding bodies: RCP, nbn
One of the southernmost towns in the Huon Valley, Geeveston (Melukerdee Country) is known for its rich farming land, forests and mountain backdrop.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Geeveston change to FTTP.
The upgrade will support improved connectivity for a number of local industries, as well as for health centres and local schools, according to the RCP.
Halls Creek, Western Australia
Project value: $5,517,998
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Western Australian government, nbn
Located on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert in East Kimberley, Halls Creek (Jaru, Kija, Kukatja, Walmajarri, and Gooniyandi Country) is the springboard to natural wonders including World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and Bungle Bungle Range.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Halls Creek change to FTTP.
According to the RCP, the upgrade will provide improved broadband connectivity to support the delivery of essential services, such as skills training, education and health services to the town and surrounding areas, as well as supporting business opportunities in tourism, mining and civil construction.
Hopetoun, Victoria
Project value: $4,173,775
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Victorian Government, nbn
Nestled in the Southern Mallee region, Hopetoun (Wotjobaluk Country) has a strong agricultural history and is home to Lake Corrong and Lake Lascelles.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Hopetoun change to FTTP.
The upgrade will provide improved connectivity to increase the economic competitiveness of the region and enable more efficient service delivery in the wider Southern Mallee area.
Kaniva, Victoria
Project value: $4,209,253
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Victorian Government, nbn
Situated halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide, Kaniva (Wotjobaluk Country) is home to The Big Windmill and the Sheep Art Trail.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Kaniva change to FTTP.
The upgrade will provide improved connectivity to support local agricultural and tourism businesses, as well as a number of community facilities providing health, education, post and emergency services to residents.
Lewiston East, South Australia
Number of premises to benefit: 750
Project value: $7,097311
Co-funding bodies: The Commonwealth and nbn
Located around 56 kilometres north of Adelaide’s city centre, Lewiston East (Kaurna Country) is a semi-rural animal and crop farming area.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Lewiston East change to FTTP.
Through this project, eligible premises in Lewiston East will gain access to the highest available wholesale residential speed plans via services over the nbn network, with a choice of speeds, including plans offering wholesale download speeds close to 1Gbps.*†
Murchison, Victoria
Project value: $5,867,591
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Victorian Government, nbn
Dubbed the ‘River Bank Garden Town’, Murchison (Yorta Yorta Country) lies on the banks of the Goulburn River, 35 kilometres south of Shepparton.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Murchison change to FTTP, with the upgrade set to provide improved connectivity to support local orchard, vineyard and dairy farm activities, as well as the delivery of health and education services to the community, according to the RCP.
Rushworth, Victoria
Project value: $5,601,844
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Victorian Government, nbn
Located 181km north of Melbourne, Rushworth (Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Yorta Yorta Country) is a former gold mining town.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Rushworth change to FTTP.
The upgrade will provide improved connectivity to support growth opportunities in tourism and health services, as well as increasing access to other essential services, says the RCP.
Surat, Queensland
Project value: $3,356,410
Co-funding bodies: RCP, Maranoa Regional Council, nbn
Home to the Cobb & Co Changing Station, Surat (Mandandanji Country) is located in Outback Queensland close to the banks of the Balonne River.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Surat change to FTTP.
The upgrade will support growth opportunities in a number of sectors, particularly tourism, and will improve health, education and public safety connectivity in the community, according to the RCP.
Wudinna, South Australia
Project value: $4,654,620
Co-funding bodies: RCP, South Australian Government, Wudinna District Council, nbn
Home to ‘The Australian Farmer’ statue, carved from local granite, Wudinna (Barngarla Country) resides on the state’s stunning Eyre Peninsula.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Wudinna change to FTTP. The upgrade will improve access to online education and health services, expand economic opportunities and increase connectedness and digital capabilities in the community.
Yirrkala, Northern Territory
Project value: $3,384,367
Co-funding bodies: RCP, East Arnhem Regional Council, nbn
Located in north-east Arnhem Land, Yirrkala (Rirratjingu Country) lies on the east coast of the Gove peninsula.
This project will see the nbn access technology in Yirrkala change to FTTP.
According to the RCP, the upgrade will support economic diversification opportunities in cultural tourism, creative industries and the health sector, as well as improving access to telehealth and education services.
Costa Group, Guyra and Falconer, New South Wales
Project value: $572,745
Co-funding bodies: RCP and Armidale Regional Council
Australia’s leading grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables, Costa Group employs more than 700 people across its two regional sites in Guyra and Falconer (Anaiwan Country), annually spending around $31 million on wages and salaries for the local economy.
This project will see the nbn access technology at Costa Group change to FTTP, as well as enable its sites to access business nbn® Enterprise Ethernet.
The upgrade will support expanded business operations at the facility, including in administration, research and horticultural production, with benefits to the local economy through increased employment opportunities and regional output, according to the RCP.
What’s next
Stay tuned for updates in future blogs as we follow the progress of these exciting projects.
Get set to join us behind the scenes as the work unfolds, hear from our people on the ground, and meet some of the locals benefiting from the improved connectivity.
“This has been a truly collaborative effort between NBN Co, businesses and all levels of government,” says Gavin.
“It is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to continuing to improve broadband services for Australia’s rural and regional communities.”
We also continue to welcome additional opportunities to work with other regional communities to help deliver access to higher speed wholesale broadband services over the nbn network across Australia through our co-investment fund.
* An end customer’s experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn network will be less than 1 Gbps and depends on the nbn access network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to their premises, whether they're using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside nbn’s control (like equipment quality, software, broadband plan, signal reception and how their service provider designs its network). Speeds may also be impacted by the number of concurrent users on the nbn Fixed Wireless network, including during busy periods. Satellite end customers may also experience latency.
† Regardless of the retail service you purchase, the actual wholesale speeds delivered by the business nbn® Enterprise Ethernet product will operate at less than 10 Gbps (if that bandwidth profile is acquired) due to equipment and network limitations. In addition, your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn network, depends on some factors outside our control (like your equipment quality, software, and how your service provider designs its network). If your service provider has not selected the 'Class of Service – High', the speeds you experience may be affected by contention on the nbn network, particularly in busy periods.