A milestone of 50 per cent of premises has been reached and that is fantastic, or is it?

The uptake of NBN services is sluggish; the average distance from the node is more than 450m meaning unstable service and no appreciable speed difference for users and, no possible way to upgrade their service without rebuilding the network.

Australia’s world ranking in internet speeds has dropped instead of increased and, most concerning, in the Digital Evolution Index of 2017, we have been lumped with the “Stall Out” countries.

By way of comparison, New Zealand has been grouped in the “Stand Out” countries.

This is primarily because we are pursuing an inequitable rollout and our idea of “super-fast” internet is 0.025Gbps (25 Mbps). All other advanced economies see “fast” internet as 1Gbps (1000 Mbps), “super-fast” internet is 5GBps+ (5000 Mbps).

Despite this, NBN is stubbornly holding onto outdated technology and deployment methods. Our roll-out is, by world standards, the most expensive and realises the least value.

The original FTTP plan was rubbished and torn up by the current Government on the basis of time and cost. Well here we are, one year past the expected completion date and $30 billion over budget.

Indeed, we are at the same cost for a full FTTP rollout.

But it gets worse –  NBN now says that it would cost an extra $2 billion to scrap FTTN and move to FTTC, so let’s review that.

The UK is often held as a beacon of FTTN technology by NBN and our ministers, but this is not a fair comparison. The UK and indeed EU has a clear political and commercial push to 1Gbps, the node tails are much shorter and they have far more HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) cables in place that can be re-purposed.

Indeed the UK is within the “stand out” group. Australia on the other hand has once again let our unhealthy and destructive obsession of scoring price over value rip apart this once in a multi-generation investment.

We are already seeing the effects of this. Our reputation as a forward-looking, stable and equitable place to invest is being trashed.

The Sunset Ridge Estate will never have Super-Fast internet on wireless and neither will the majority of premises FTTN. An extra $2 billion upgrading this now is money well spent; it will ensure equity for business, education and yes, entertainment.

Please join the Bellingen Shire NBN Facebook group, understand the technology and have your say.

Jason Errey, Arne Hansen and Members of the Bellingen Shire NBN Group