003/06
9 February 2006
$878 million Broadband Connect Program Up and Running
Thirty-six companies are now offering affordable broadband connections in rural, regional and remote Australia under the Government’s $878 million Broadband Connect program, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan announced today.
“This is a great outcome for telecommunications competition in rural and regional areas and means that customers have a choice of services from a range of providers including larger carriers like Telstra and Optus or smaller providers such as BorderNet and Westnet,” Senator Coonan said.
The first stage of Broadband Connect continues the successful formula of the HiBIS program which helped ensure all Australians could access affordable broadband connections over satellite, wireless or ADSL.
While HiBIS was very successful in providing broadband access to more than 700 000 households, Broadband Connect represents an opportunity to go further.
Broadband Connect has eight times the amount of funding HiBIS received and represents a greater opportunity to deliver sustainable broadband solutions, more room for innovation, and more scope to explore the growing range of new and existing broadband technologies.
The second stage of Broadband Connect will take effect from 1 July 2006 following consideration of responses to a public discussion paper released last year on both the $878 million Broadband Connect program and the $113 million Clever Networks program.
More than 100 submissions have been received from a variety of carriers, service providers, community groups and State, Territory and Local Governments.
“These submissions provide a good basis from which to develop guidelines for the next stage of Broadband Connect,” Senator Coonan said.
“A significant increase in broadband funding under Broadband Connect provides an incredible opportunity to deliver advanced and sustainable broadband solutions into rural, regional and remote Australia and I am impressed by some of the ideas coming forward.”
A full list of registered Broadband Connect providers can be found at: