IN just six weeks the first of 19,000 homes and businesses in Orange will be able to start linking to the National Broadband Network (NBN) with installation work on track, according to NBN Co.
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“Construction is currently underway in Orange and people will progressively be able to make the switch from August through to September,” said NBN spokesperson Kelly Stevens.
“We will turn areas on in modules so as they go live people are then able to make the switch.”
Ms Stevens said residents and businesses need to start preparing for the switch by going online to see what progress has been made in their area in the construction of the network.
Residents and businesses are being encouraged to register on the website to be notified when they can switch to NBN.
Former Orange City Councillor Gavin Priestley, who has had an interest in communications in Orange over several years, said while some people may feel the process of the building the network is taking too long, they may not understand the complexities associated with construction.
“The people we see working on corners and in streets building the network are just a small piece of what happens,” he said.
“There is all the work required to connect back to the exchange as well and that is often behind the scenes, as is the programming which has to be put in place.”
Mr Priestley said he believes the new high-speed network system is just one of the ways technology is changing the way people work and live.
“You only have to look at smart phones to see we have a computer in our pocket,” said Mr Priestley.
Ms Stevens said Orange's connections will add to the 2.6 million homes and businesses across Australia who can already connect to NBN through a fixed line, fixed wireless or Sky Muster satellite service.
“For the first time Orange people will now have a choice of speed plans through the NBN,” said Ms Stevens.
To see if your home or business is ready for the switch go to www.nbnco.com.au and follow the prompts.
Lendlease are the contractors who are installing the technology in Orange.
When NBN Co announced in March it was starting work to build the high-speed network in and around Orange Ms Stevens said the minimum 25 megabits a second speed would be achieved.
“We have a mandate from the government to ensure that everyone has access to 25 megabits minimum,” she said.
NBN Co said homes had to be located no more than one kilometre from fibre optic nodes to ensure they meet the minimum speed.
