What is the National Broadband Network?

What is the National Broadband Network

The NBN is an Australian Government initiative and represents the largest ever infrastructure project undertaken in this country.
More about the NBN

Community consultation

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is holding community forums across Australia to provide information for local government, residents and businesses on the benefits of high speed broadband.
More about community consultation

How does Australia compare?

Australia trails behind other countries on a range of telecommunications indicators. In 2009, out of the 30 OECD countries our fixed broadband was the fifth most expensive and we ranked seventeenth in terms of fixed broadband take-up. The NBN will close this gap.
More about how Australia compares

Fact sheets

Download fact sheets on the National Broadband Network.
View fact sheets

Multilingual fact sheets

Download fact sheets on the National Broadband Network in foreign languages.
View multilingual fact sheets

The rollout

Work has already begun on the new network. In Tasmania, optic fibre is being rolled out to three communities. New fibre optic links are also being laid in regional Australia under the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program and NBN Co has announced the first and second release sites set to receive high speed broadband on mainland Australia.
More about the rollout

NBN rollout map

How will the network be delivered across Australia

The Australian Government has created a new company, NBN Co Ltd, to build and operate the NBN right across Australia.
More about how the NBN will be delivered

The Government has entered caretaker mode during the Federal Election campaign. In line with the caretaker conventions, only updates reflecting routine operations of the Department will be made to this website.

How will this benefit the Australian economy?

A competitive 21st-century economy demands the efficient, dynamic communications network promised by the NBN. Substantially improved business productivity and global connectivity are just the start; there will be better service levels and competition and more choice for consumers and businesses no matter where they are.
More about the benefit to the economy