Lake warning on patchy internet - ABC Online

Posted March 26, 2013 07:22:17

There is concern poor internet connections around Lake Macquarie will serve as a disincentive for businesses to remain and invest in the region.

A council report shows much of the area's information technology infrastructure is below state average.

Councillor Jason Pauling says while some Lake Macquarie suburbs are set to be included in the rollout of the national broadband network other parts may not be upgraded for many years.

He says it is crucial councillors hear from telecommunications providers about what can be done while residents and businesses wait for the NBN.

"If I had a small to medium-sized business, so 10 to 30-odd employees, that were highly reliant on internet connectivity speed, and I could not get that connection in Lake Macquarie at a reasonable cost and without too much trouble, then certainly I would look in the very near future at Newcastle and Maitland as more attractive alternatives," he said.

"The area of Newcastle was earmarked for stage one, the northern part of Lake Macquarie, the Charlestown and Cardiff area was earmarked for stage two, but the vast majority of the rest of Lake Macquarie doesn't have any fixed dates yet.

"That's a concern because those areas are struggling for internet speed connectivity even now.

"I have concerns that those places that get the NBN first will get a huge advantage that may run for several years in terms of whatever opportunities high speed connectivity may deliver."

Topics: internet-technology, small-business, local-government, information-technology, speers-point-2284, cardiff-2285, charlestown-2290, newcastle-2300