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South Australia has nation's slowest uptake of top tier NBN connections

SA households and small businesses are the nation’s slowest at signing up for fast NBN connections But there is some non-NBN internet that is being embraced.

South Australia has not joined the national rush for high-speed internet connections. Picture: Valdman
South Australia has not joined the national rush for high-speed internet connections. Picture: Valdman

South Australians are shunning premium internet connections with figures showing the lowest levels of high speed plans in the country.

New NBN Co figures, obtained by The Advertiser, show that residential plans in South Australia – embraced by households, many small and medium businesses, sole traders and employees working from home – are more likely to be lower speed tiers than anywhere else in the country.

However, two high speed internet options – being provided by the Adelaide City Council and the State Government, have been embraced.

NBN Co Head of State and Social Media Jane McNamara told The Advertiser SA has the highest take-up in the nation of ‘entry level’ 12/1mbps plans – measured in terms of download/upload speeds – at 12.2 per cent.

This compares to the national average of 9.0 per cent.

“We know that more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in South Australia have access to at least 50/20 mbps plans but the data shows that only 56.3 per cent in South Australia have actually signed up to that,” Ms McNamara.

“If you’re on the right plan you can do things faster … business can transact easier and connect better.”

As the roll out of NBN in SA nears completion, Ms McNamara said attention will shift to educating business about the benefits of taking up higher level plans.

Flinders University Director of the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute John Spoehr said despite being more expensive, higher tier plans are becoming increasingly important, for small and medium business.

“High speed internet is oxygen for business, it is absolutely essential that you have got a network that is reliable and fast so that your customers are not experiencing delays, and you are able to interact at the highest possible speeds,” Professor Spoehr said.

“High speed plans certainly improve productivity and you have to have the best digital footprint out there to maximise business opportunities.”

Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the Ten Gigabit Adelaide is nearing completion of 1,000 connected buildings.

The fibre optic data network was launched in 2018, spruiked by the council as being able to provide faster and more affordable internet than Seoul, South Korea – home to the world’s best broadband – and for the first time, put “Adelaide in the game” to entice a global-tech giant like Google, Microsoft or Apple.

“We are now in the final stages of completing the project and our team is working hard behind the scenes to deliver the next exciting stage of the project in the weeks ahead,” Ms Verschoor said.-

“We are seeing momentum steadily building and expect the project to reach its full potential in the next 12 to 24 months.”

Likewise, SA Innovation Minster David Pisoni said the State Government’s version GigCity had also gained momentum.

“Affordable high-speed internet is increasingly important for businesses across a range of sectors of the South Australian economy,” he said.

“The GigCity network has grown to a total of 23 innovation precincts in metro Adelaide, with more than 350 businesses having access to its benefits.

“The presence of GigCity is having a transformative impact on innovation precincts like Lot Fourteen, by attracting and retaining businesses that require ultra-fast internet connectivity at an affordable price.”

5G explained: How does it work?

In the working-class area of Port Adelaide the team at Big Shed Brewery on Port Road say a fast internet connection – coupled with a heavy social media presence – has helped them through COVID-19.

Big Shed Brewery co-owner Craig Basford said the brewery was on a 50/20 mbps plan that had allowed them to keep the enterprise up to speed.

“It allows us to scale the business much quicker,” Mr Basford said. “We have got the same capability as the biggest brewers.”

Mr Basford said every critical element at Big Shed – from accounting, to the brewing management system, point of sale and “even the music” – was run through the internet and into a cloud. “It got us through a lot of hard times during COVID-19,” he said.

“If it didn’t save us, it certainly made it a lot easier.

“It allowed us to ramp-up our online sales and access customers from all over the world.”

Big Shed Brewery co-owner Craig Basford credits fast internet with keeping their business fluid. Picture: Tom Huntley
Big Shed Brewery co-owner Craig Basford credits fast internet with keeping their business fluid. Picture: Tom Huntley

Raise a glass to fast internet

Tech-savviness has guided a brewer in the Port Adelaide region to weather the storm of COVID-19.

The team at Big Shed Brewery on Old Port Road, Royal Park, say a fast internet connection – coupled with a heavy social-media presence – has helped them through pandemic.

Big Shed Brewery co-owner Craig Basford said the brewery was on a 50/20 mbps plan that had allowed them to keep the enterprise up to speed.

“It allows us to scale the business much quicker,” Mr Basford said. “We have got the same capability as the biggest brewers.”

Mr Basford said every critical element at Big Shed – from accounting, to the brewing management system, point of sale and “even the music” – was run through the internet and into a cloud. “It got us through a lot of hard times during COVID-19,” he said.

“If it didn’t save us, it certainly made it a lot easier.

“It allowed us to ramp up our online sales and access customers from all over the world.”

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/south-australia-has-nations-slowest-uptake-of-top-tier-nbn-connections/news-story/0c3ec8313138d8eedbf51830a08c2669