Slow and steady wins NBN

The frustration continues across the Yass Valley as the once promised speedy internet continues to be delayed, costing some residents higher rates for alternate services. 

David Mannion of Dog Trap Road was promised the Mt Manton Fixed Wireless service in Christmas 2015, again in January 2017 and now it is scheduled for March 2017. 

“My neighbours and my household on Dog Trap Road don’t have access to ADSL services due to poor cabling, and this issue has been raised repeatedly with Telstra and parliamentary members since 2012,” he said. “We have been forced to pay high rates for 4G services which do not allow us to access many of the internet services others take for granted.

“The House of Representatives on February 8 [was informed] that the Mt Manton Fixed Wireless tower had been "switched on" over the Christmas period, obviously this was not the case.”

While the NBN first rolled in Yass almost a year ago, with over 830 premises in Bowning and Binalong able to connect to the network. In November, 2,800 connection were made around Yass. Some residents feel they have no say as to what level of connection they will receive. 

“It is not clear if local residents will be forced to accept a satellite based skymuster solution or other alternatives,” Gunning resident Bernie Boyce said. “What is strange is that there are other options which possible offer far superior access and cost.”

He says while Gunning has fibre optic running on the Hume Highway, 3G and 4G mobile reception, and ADSL based copper solutions, the Skymuster offers a significantly better solution to farm and other non-village occupants ... “But to offer a satellite solution to the village seems puzzling.”

“We are frustrated by the lack of transparency regarding the progress of the local rollout, and by the apparent ineptitude of the NBN Co in delivering services to areas in dire need,” Mr Mannion said.