Building blocks of the recovery

National Broadband Network

The Government has established a company to invest up to $43 billion in a National Broadband Network (NBN) to provide superfast broadband to Australian homes and businesses.

The NBN will address underinvestment in key national infrastructure and support future growth in the demand for telecommunications services.

A new fibre optic network will connect up to 90 per cent of homes and workplaces. Broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps will be available, placing Australia as a world leader.

In other parts of Australia, households, businesses and communities will

have consistent broadband speeds of 12 Mbps or more. These services will be delivered through next‑generation wireless and satellite technologies. This is much faster than existing speeds in many areas of Australia.

Jobs and businesses

The rollout of this vast network will draw on a large and diverse workforce. At its peak, it is expected 37,000 jobs will be supported.

Australian businesses engaged in e‑commerce will have faster and more accessible broadband. They will be able to offer innovative new services. Businesses will also be able to work smarter using broadband‑based tools and services.

Rural and regional communities

In rural and regional Australia, the NBN with help connect communities, families and friends. It will help to revitalise our regions and improve the delivery of social services.

The Government's Rural and Regional NBN Initiative will provide $80 million for local projects — the enhanced Digital Regions Initiative, rural NBN Coordinators to promote broadband take up and the ABC's Regional Broadband Hubs to support community‑based broadband material.

This nation building network is anticipated to be rolled out in Tasmania from mid‑2009, and in the rest of Australia from 2010.