Wagga is the first of 25 regional locations to get AUSTAR wireless
broadband as part of a roll-out that will see 750,000 Australian homes get
access to the country's latest wireless infrastructure.
Due for completion by the end of next year, the new Austar
network was opened by Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts,
Senator the Hon Helen Coonan.
"Commercial investment in broadband
infrastructure is always a welcome development, and I am pleased to be here in
Wagga Wagga to officially launch the first market in AUSTAR's new regional
broadband network," she said.
"I congratulate AUSTAR for investing in services that
will bring real and long-lasting benefits to people living in rural and
regional Australia."
AUSTAR Chief Executive Officer, John Porter said,
"AUSTAR Broadband brings greater competition and innovation in broadband
services to approximately 14,000 Wagga Wagga homes. It's a unique product -
speedy, simple to set up, and available right now.
"No lock in contract, no waiting around to see if your
exchange is enabled for DSL, and no need to change your home phone provider
either," he said.
AUSTAR, which is a pay TV and dial up internet provider in
Wagga, will offer a range of plans and speeds starting at $24.95 per month.
Wagga residents are already able to access wireless broadband from BigPond using Telstra’s EV-DO (1x Evolution-Data Optimized) network. BigPond plans range from $34.95 for 200MB at 256/64Mbps to $59.95 for 1GB at 512/64Mbps.
AUSTAR plans look to be significantly cheaper and faster ranging from $24.95 for 300MB at 256/64Mbps. Austar also plans to offer a flexible plan which allows subscribers to select the speed and download allocation up to 10GB at 1024/256Mbps for $109.95.AUSTAR invested approximately $1 million to bring broadband
to Wagga Wagga, with the installation of radio communications equipment on
existing infrastructure at Willans Hill and Johnston Street.
AUSTAR holds spectrum licenses in regional Australia,
representing around one third of Australian homes, which enable the company to
rollout low-cost high speed broadband networks.
The company also hopes to participate in the Australian
Government's A$1.1 billion Connect Australia communications funding
program. In May 2006, AUSTAR, along with Soul and Unwired, announced the
formation of AUSalliance, established to seek funding under Connect Australia to build
an affordable alternative broadband network.
The companies already have commercial plans that aim to
cover approximately 55 per cent of the Australian population, and Connect Australia
funding would enable each company to extend their commercial plans into under serviced
regional and outer metropolitan areas.
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