The RiotACT article in January about the NBN’s sneaky decision to delay many of its roll out dates for the ACT clearly hit a nerve with local readers and residents. It received over 1000 shares on Facebook and 10,000 views on RiotACT.
Many readers took the extra step of contacting the NBN directly on social media and via email, expressing their dissatisfaction and asking for an explanation.
Clearly, someone at the NBN has been listening. Today’s article in the Canberra Times includes a list of suburbs that have been moved back up the NBN’s priority list for delivery:
- Charnwood, Dunlop, Evatt, Florey, Flynn, and Fraser are now projected to have access to the NBN by early 2018. This will be of particular relief to the Dunlop residents still stuck on the ancient ADSL1 standard.
- Long-neglected Tuggeranong receives its first significant NBN rollout with construction underway in Oxley and Wanniassa. Services are projected to be available by July this year – a full 2 years earlier than NBN estimated would be possible in January. Several other southside suburbs have also been brought forward by 6-12 months, with delivery now estimated for the second half of 2018.
- Unlike last time, it appears that no-one is worse off in the new plan. Construction work is continuing in Casey, Turner, O’Connor, Braddon, Dickson, Lyneham, Hackett, Watson, and Downer.
It is unfortunately true that NBN Co has a track record of over-promising and under-delivering. In its October 2015 plan, just under half of the ACT suburbs it forecast for construction by the end of 2016 actually had any work commence.
Nonetheless, the increased level of detail makes me cautiously optimistic that this time the rollout dates may broadly stay on target.
My view is that this is a great example of what can be achieved if people don’t remain quiet and demand better results. I encourage everyone to stay active and vigilant about ongoing progress and to hold the NBN to account for delivery.
Loading ...
