Construction of the National Broadband Network ramping up across Australia

207,500 fibre premises passed

More than 70,000 homes and businesses using NBN services

Fibre users up sevenfold over 12 months

The company rolling out the National Broadband Network has achieved its revised end-of-year target for the delivery of fast, reliable and affordable fibre optic broadband to homes and businesses across Australia.

Figures released by NBN Co today show that as at 30 June 2013 the company achieved:

Its revised target range of 190,000-220,000 premises passed by fibre optic cable in built-up areas and new housing developments. The total number of fibre premises passed as at 30 June was 207,500. The fibre rollout is the largest component of the NBN build, being delivered to 93 per cent of Australian premises by 2021

A more than fourfold increase in the total number of end users over the past 12 months and a sevenfold increase in fibre users. The total number of families and businesses with NBN services is now 70,100

NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley said:

“These results are pleasing because they demonstrate that the steps we put in place in March to accelerate the rollout have been successful.

“They provide us with confidence that NBN Co is on track to deliver fast, reliable and affordable broadband to every family and business in Australia over the remaining eight years of this decade-long build.

“They also show that NBN Co, together with its industry partners, has the capacity to overcome the challenges inherent in rolling out Australia’s largest national infrastructure project."

NBN Co uses the accepted industry definition of “Premises Passed”, that is homes and businesses passed by an active telecommunications network^^. This standard measure includes those complex premises that will receive services over the NBN outside of standard order lead times.

“Premises such as blocks of apartments and large office blocks have always provided challenges to companies rolling out telecommunications networks. The key difference between the NBN and other networks – such as hybrid fibre coaxial (or cable TV) – is that we will provide NBN services to every home and business that orders a service,” Mr Quigley said.

“We’re currently working with our delivery partners to do just that. Steps include the work orders we have placed with Downer EDI Engineering Pty Ltd, Daly International Pty Ltd, ISG Management Pty Ltd and Universal Communications Group Limited to connect multi-dwelling units (or “MDUs”) to the NBN.”

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MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Andrew Sholl

Phone: 02 9927 4420

Mobile: 0448 805 806

Email: andrewsholl@nbnco.com.au

Key NBN metrics for 30 June 2013^

FY 2012 FY 2013 Construction commenced or completed 305,000 1,115,000 Premises/lots passed Brownfield 29,000 163,500 Greenfield 10,000 44,000 Fixed wireless 9,000 27,300 Satellite* 165,000 250,000 Total 213,000 484,800 Premises activated Brownfield 3,400 20,400 Greenfield 500 13,200 Fixed wireless 100 1,900 Satellite* 9,600 34,600 Total 13,600 70,100



Notes

^ Rounded to the nearest ‘00

* Coverage indicates estimated number of eligible end-users provided by DBCDE

^^ Premises are passed when “all design, construction, commissioning and quality assurance activities in an FSAM have been completed for the Local network and Distribution network” (Source: NBN Co Corporate Plan 2012-15) Construction commences when “contract instructions have been issued together with the initial Network Design Document (NDD) so that construction partners can commence work on the detailed design, field inspections and rodding / roping activities in an FSAM. This is followed by the release of a rollout map for the FSAM on the NBN Co website showing the coverage area for that FSAM and the estimated number of premises to be passed / covered” (Source: NBN Co Corporate Plan 2012-15)

Follow the NBN rollout at http://www.nbnco.com.au/when-do-i-get-it/index.html