ARARAT will be able to access some of the latest and fastest technology on the National Broadband Network from next year.
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The NBN company announced on Monday that some central areas of Ararat will be included in the Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC) rollout.
The new technology will bring fibre-optic cable to individual streets, rather than a cabinet every few hundred meters with Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN).
NBN spokeswoman Kasey Ellison said FTTC would give internet users more options for higher speeds.
“FTTC is taking fibre closer to the house, taking it directly to the driveway of the home,” she said.
“With FTTN, the fibre runs to the node in the street and then the existing phone lines will run to the house.
“The closer the fibre is to the house, the greater the possibility for faster internet speeds.”
Ms Ellison could not say how many Ararat premises would receive FTTC.
NBN has planned to provide FTTC to 2100 premises across Ararat, Edenhope, Koroit and Sebastopol.
“Construction of the NBN fixed line network in Ararat is expected to commence in October, which will allow about 3800 premises to connect to fast broadband,” Ms Ellison said.
“We expect the area will be ready for service in mid-2018.
“More than 1000 premises within the Ararat Rural City Council are already able to take advantage of services over NBN’s fixed wireless technology.”
Most of Ararat’s residential areas have a deadline to receive some form of fixed line NBN services by June 2018.
Areas along Barkly and Albert streets between the Pyrenees Highway intersection and the Western Highway roundabout have no specific date for installation.
This suggested the FTTC rollout would concentrate on Ararat’s central business district.
Ms Ellison said it was too early to identify the specific areas that would get the faster connections but the FTTC rollout was planned for town centres.
Residents can check their NBN options at www.nbnco.com.au