Slow internet speeds are proving to be a thing of the past in Coffs Harbour, as the region leads the way in the rollout of the National Broadband Network.
Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce members met with NBN Co’s lead community affairs manager Darren Rudd on Tuesday to discuss how the technology was progressing.
“Coffs Harbour has the largest continuing NBN footprint in Australia with 25,000 properties able to connect to a fibre optic network,” Mr Rudd said.
“The region is in a driving position to attract and maintain businesses – people shouldn’t have to live in Sydney or Melbourne to be able to compete on a national and global level.”
Tuesday’s meeting was also an opportunity for Chamber of Commerce members to seek advice on problems that had been flagged earlier this year.
“The complexity with this model is you have a retail service provider and the NBN behind them – in most cases a service provider will investigate an issue, which then may be raised with the NBN.”
Chamber of Commerce president George Cecato said since Coffs Harbour was selected as part of the second group of rollout areas for NBN, much had happened.
“The productivity achieved through increased speeds is a major bonus for businesses… it makes Coffs Harbour a stronger place to do business and invest in.”
While some areas – notably the Northern Beaches – are yet to be connected, Mr Rudd said the rollout usually expanded from suburbs which had it.
“The NBN will definitely come to those areas but the timeline for the rollout has not been finalised.”