Local suburbs to have faster broadband in a year - ABC Online

The 99 suburbs, which include 150,000 homes and businesses, will receive "fibre-to-the-node" (FTTN) technology over the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Construction work has already begun in Belmont, with preparation underway in other areas, and the project is expected to be completed in 12 months.

According to NBN Co, a trial of 50 homes at Umina on the Central Coast resulted in average download speeds of 90 megabytes a second and 30 for uploads.

NBN corporate affairs spokesman, Darren Rudd, said the use of the FTTN option meant consumers would receive faster broadband much sooner than would otherwise have been possible.

Fibre-optic cables would be married with Telstra's copper lines in a street-side node "cabinet" to deliver fast broadband.

"Because of the nature of the network we can expedite the build, there's less complexity, less cost and we can get people on the network this time next year," Mr Rudd said.

"What we're looking at doing is leveraging the capacity in the exchanges.

"So there's room in the telephone exchanges as they exist, [but] the distribution infrastructure in the ground will need to be upgraded a little."

And he said it was a high-quality service.

"Many other carriers in the world have got these networks, they're world-class networks, and the speed will not be an issue," Mr Rudd said.

"The government has committed that, through us, we will start with guarantees of 25 down and five up, and they will progress.

"We tried this in Umina and the speeds were comparable to the fibre product."

Instead of fibre being installed directly to each home and business, it would instead be run from the exchange to the "nearest node".

Mr Rudd explained these nodes were a green box that would be placed in each street in consultation with councils and residents.

"They're like a mini-exchange in the street," he said.

"We run fibre from the big exchange to them and then we push more of the data through, from that little node into the house or the apartment."

Mr Rudd said as a result there would be faster emails, internet, and sending and receiving of photos and videos, which were currently frustratingly slow for many people.

As for large businesses, there were plans to provide "enterprise grade" services.

Mr Rudd said there would be minimal disruption for the building works.

"We don't have to dig up driveways for this, we don't have to dig up rose beds and all that sort of thing, we can just roll it out to the street," he said.

Mr Rudd said existing copper lines to each property would be checked and upgraded where necessary.

Here are the 99 suburbs covered in the rollout.

Lake Macquarie

Belmont North, Belmont South, Belmont, Blacksmiths, Croudace Bay, Eleebana, Floraville, Jewells, Marks Point, Mount Hutton, Pelican, Tingira Heights, Valentine, Windale, Argenton, Barnsley, Boolaroo, Booragul, Cameron Park, Edgeworth, Holmesville, Killingworth, Marmong Point, Minmi, Seahampton, Speers Point, Teralba, Warners Bay, West Wallsend, Bonnells Bay, Brightwaters, Cooranbong, Dora Creek, Eraring, Mandalong, Martinsville, Mirrabooka, Morisset Park, Morisset, Silverwater, Sunshine.

Newcastle

Adamstown, Bar Beach, Broadmeadow, Carrington, Cooks Hill, Hamilton East, Hamilton South, Hamilton, Islington, Kooragang, Maryville, Merewether Heights, Merewether, Newcastle East, Newcastle West, Newcastle, The Hill, The Junction, Tighes Hill, Wickham.

Central Coast

Budgewoi Peninsula, Canton Beach, Charmhaven, Gorokan, Hamlyn Terrace, Kanwal, Lake Haven, Norah Head, Toukley, Warnervale, Woongarrah, Bensville, Blackwall, Booker Bay, Box Head, Daleys Point, Davistown, Empire Bay, Ettalong Beach, Green Point, Horsfield Bay, Killcare Heights, Killcare, Kincumber, Koolewong, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Pretty Beach, Saratoga, St Huberts Island, Umina Beach, Woy Woy Bay, Woy Woy, Yattalunga, Tuggerawong, Wadalba, Wyongah, Noraville.

Darren Rudd spoke to Aaron Kearney on 1233 ABC Newcastle Breakfast.