25 February 2005
Border region speeds ahead with ADSL broadband
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced during a visit to Albury-Wodonga today that 14 new towns in the Border Region will receive ADSL broadband.
"I am pleased to announce that Bethanga, Kiewa and Jerilderie will have their exchanges upgraded to receive ADSL broadband immediately, with the help of the Government's Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBIS)," Senator Coonan said.
"Seven other towns have received ADSL in Indi and 12 in Farrer since the scheme commenced in April last year. A further 11 towns in the region have also been approved for upgrade before the end of the financial year."
The exchanges that will be upgraded by Telstra are:
Falls Creek (March 31), Oaklands (March 21), Talbingo (February 28), Tumbarumba (February 28) and Walla Walla (March 28).
Porepunkah, Mt Hotham, Violet Town, Mt Beauty, Adelong and Chiltern will be upgraded by June with dates to be announced shortly.
"The Government is committed to ensuring all Australians, regardless of where they live, have access to high quality, affordable telecommunications services," Senator Coonan said.
"We have already invested more than $1 billion into ensuring services, such as broadband technology and mobile phone coverage, are upgraded and improved- particularly for people living in rural, regional and remote Australia.
"Faster internet services are being made available in the Border Region thanks to this investment, Telstra and the Government's HiBIS scheme."
The $107.8 million HiBIS offers financial incentives for service providers to supply high-speed broadband services in regional areas at prices comparable to those in metropolitan areas.
There are now more than 25 HiBIS providers, many of them in rural and regional areas, and tens of thousands of regional Australians are now enjoying more affordable and accessible broadband.
"Access to broadband services is critical to the ongoing productivity and survival of our businesses," Senator Coonan said.
"I am pleased that the many residents living in the Border Region will now be able to access faster and more reliable internet services.
"These achievements are not possible without a strong local community and two local members who really stand up for their constituents - Sussan Ley and Sophie Panopolous.
"I congratulate Sussan and Sophie for lobbying so hard for broadband in their electorates."
More information on the Government's HiBIS program is available at www.telinfo.gov.au.
Exchanges in the Border region that now have ADSL as a result of HiBIS assistance:
Baranduda, Beechworth, Barnawartha, Corryong, Euroa, Myrtleford, Rutherglen, Batlow, Culcairn, Finley, Mathoura, Holbrook, Jindera, Berrigan, Henty, Lockhart, Tabletop, Wentworth, Curlwa, Bethanga, Kiewa, Jerilderie