200+ Bowen homes and businesses to move from fixed wireless to fibre to the premises

A monsoon trough through Bowen in early 2019 demonstrated how important a robust telecommunications network was to community resilience and recovery.

More than 200 Bowen homes and businesses will have better connectivity when new funding allows the NBN to upgrade them from fixed wireless technology to fibre to the premises.

The $1 million funding under the $15 million North Queensland Telecommunications and Energy Improvement Grants program will help deliver fast broadband connectivity for 207 residents and businesses in Bowen.

A funding agreement is set to be signed in coming weeks to enhance disaster resilience and recovery for the wider Whitsunday region.

In May, NBN Co announced Cannonvale, Proserpine and some northern Mackay suburbs would benefit from the extension of fibre deeper into communities, enabling access to the wholesale download speed tier of close to 1 Gbps on demand by 2023 if residents ordered plans based on eligible wholesale speed tiers.

NBN Co workers.

This speed is different to end user speeds which vary depending on equipment and network limitations.

NBN Co has also recently delivered emergency satellite connectivity in Collinsville and Hydeway Bay to support communities and emergency services during times of disaster as part of the Australian Government’s Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters package.

NBN Co’s regional and remote chief development officer Gavin Williams said the grant was important recognition of the need for upgrades in regional areas.

“But critically, the nbn also underpins disaster preparedness, community resilience and recovery,” he said.

“We have seen many examples recently where reliable telecommunications has made a critical difference to the ability of communities to help cope with and recover from floods, fires, storms and other major events.”

nbn head of local Queensland Kylie Lindsay. Picture: Evan Morgan

NBN Local head of Queensland Kylie Lindsay said a monsoon trough hit Bowen hard in early 2019 and demonstrated how important a robust telecommunications network was to community resilience and recovery.

“The nbn team continues to work with communities across regional Queensland to help meet customer needs and raise the digital capability of regional and remote communities across Australia,” she said.

“I want to acknowledge the tireless advocacy of local elected representatives, the Greater Whitsunday Alliance and business groups to progress this project in Bowen.

“NBN Co continues to work with stakeholders to help meet customer needs and to raise the digital capability of regional and remote communities across Australia.”