Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

NBN Co to trial faster fixed wireless services

Bushies to get 25-50Mbps if their retailers want it

NBN Co, the entity charged with building and operating Australia's national broadband network (NBN) has announced a trial of 25-50Mbps downloads and 5-20Mbps uploads on its fixed wireless network.

The trial is for wholesale speeds: retailers will have the choice of creating products at this speed, or ignoring it.

The network-builder says 25-50Mbps is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2015 and that the pilot “is expected to conclude 20 business days after the commercial launch”.

Bushies shouldn't get too excited about the trial, for two reasons. Firstly, retailers don't have to play, so there's a chance your ISP will sit the trial out. Secondly, NBN Co says “The exact number of premises as well as the exact areas covered by the pilot may vary once NBN Co has finalised its planning.”

So even though the press releases are flying, NBN Co itself doesn't yet know just where the pilot will take place.

Those quibbles aside, the news will be very welcome beyond Australia's denser urban areas. That the news comes on top of NBN Co's recent announcements of a fiber-to-your-premises product (At a price), DOCSIS 3.1 to speed internet-over-TV-cable and intention to introduce fibre-to-the-basement service for blocks of flats shows the company is making good strides towards speedier services. Of course even the fastest services NBN Co has hinted at don't get close to the 2Gbps services that Comcast plans in the USA, but they're rather better than the current broadband delivered to Australians, be they in the bush or the 'burbs. ®

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like