Jason Errey, who operates an innovative, data-intensive business from Sunset Ridge called OEMG Global, presented the argument that if the NBN install went ahead as planned, Bellingen township would be digitally divided into those with fibre and those with the lesser capability of fixed wireless.

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Fixed wireless NBN is delivered by radio communication from a nearby tower that transmits a signal directly to a small roof-top antenna on a home or business.

It’s been available for certain areas of Bellingen since 2014, but as there’s no compulsion to make the switch from ADSL, the take-up rate has been 30–40 per cent.

Fibre is a physical connection using fibre optic cable that may reach the premises, the kerb outside (FTTC), or a nearby node. Bellingen FTTC installation has been pushed back nine months to January–March 2019.

According to a map published on www.bellingennbn.net.au half of the area that will miss out on fibre when it is installed early next year has terrain that is unsuitable for fixed wireless technology.

“More than 50 per cent of the Bellingen township slated for fixed wireless does not have direct line of sight to the tower and is therefore relying on a secondary signal to connect,” Jason said. 

“A secondary signal is a signal that is reflecting or refracting off something, like trees, or other structures. This means that when the wind blows or it rains, the signal will be degraded because the reflection/refraction surface changes. Indeed many users are reporting connection problems and voice dropouts when it rains.”

Jason also made the point that fixed wireless does not offer a ‘business grade’ service that would allow for large data uploads, cloud-based computing and international videoconferencing during the peak load evening period when businesses such as his need to talk with clients in other time zones.

Furthermore, NBNCo  has admitted that it would be too expensive to upgrade fixed wireless to the  100 Mbps speeds achievable with fibre, and as a way of combating congestion it is considering having caps on people’s monthly data usage, as is the case for satellite users.

Local NBN manager Ian Scott, who was invited to the July council meeting to address concerns about inequity of access in Bellingen, flatly denied that there was a problem with fixed wireless in Sunset Ridge.

“We have 70-100 installations there and no failures,” Ian said. “The signal strength is adequate to deliver the service. It’s a challenging area for radio but it’s by no means the most challenging area that we’re servicing.”

He mentioned that one of his happy customers on Sunset Ridge is a personal friend, an executive who uses his NBN connection for telecommuting and also has a family using it for study and recreation purposes. 

Another customer is the North Bellingen Medical Centre, who will eventually receive fibre but were put onto the fixed wireless when it became available a few years ago.

Ian argued that the current service is meeting the average resident’s needs and rather than “gold plating” the entire area, people such as Jason who need more could take advantage of NBN’s technology choice option.

This would involve a $660 upfront design fee followed a quote of something like $10,000 to $20,000 to install a fibre connection to the premises.

Faced with contradictory but convincing arguments, Councillors Steve Klipin, Dominic King and Steve Jenkins stated they did not feel qualified to arbitrate on the technological points that had been raised and questioned what their role should be in this domain anyway, given that the national broadband network is a federal government initiative.

“We’ve been hearing two opposing viewpoints,” Cr Jenkins said. “I don’t know what to believe.”

Cr King noted that council has previously made multiple representations about the shire’s rollout to Canberra and NBN Co.

“What can we do as a local government authority that we haven’t done already?”  he said.

Cr Jennie Fenton, who had moved the motion that brought Ian Scott to the meeting, said she was concerned by the implication that the issue was just about one person’s business.

“Bellingen is a place that attracts innovators,” she said. 

She noted that council was the only local body that could lobby NBN Co directly.

“We are the ones who have a chance to say something that will affect multi generations.” 

The councillors resolved to note the response provided by Ian Scott from NBN Co and to organise a councillor workshop to consider council’s next step.  

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