ARMIDALE has become Australia’s first city to be entirely switched on to the National Broadband Network.
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The last of the city’s old copper network has just been switched off.
In 2014, Armidale was one of the first regions to transfer to the network.
Now 12,000 households and businesses are on the NBN.
The milestone is being celebrated today in a ceremony at Whitehack, an online security company that relocated here from the United States because of the NBN.
Digital Economy Implementation Group Chairman Alun Davies, who pushed for the community to embrace the NBN, said the rollout’s success could be measured by where the ceremony was being held.
“Whitehack founder Adrian Wood has inspired a lot of people,” he said.
“That’s the future in Armidale, big technology coupled with agriculture.”
NBN NSW and ACT manager for corporate affairs Kelly Stevens said it was a proud moment for the company. Armidale was the first city to switch on to the NBN in Australia. The city stood as an example of how the technology could be harnessed by businesses in the area, Ms Stevens said. “For us Armidale is a real shining light in how to successfully use the NBN,” she said.
“We often talk to other councils and local government areas about digital strategy and use Armidale as an example.”
Marketing and creative advertising agency núcleo was established in Armidale in 2008 and now has offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Wollongong.
Digital marketer Josh Billing praised the NBN as a key to the business’ success. “The NBN has really helped us extend our online reach which is the primary thing,” he said.
“It hasn’t restricted us to the Armidale area; it’s very easy to move into work for clients who are in a far more diverse geographical regions. We have clients in Tonga and New York.”
The speed of the internet also makes simple tasks easier to complete.
“I can notice the difference; I have a friend who is a photographer in Sydney who isn’t on the NBN and for him he talks of the constant struggle of trying to upload photos to share with clients,” front end web designer Greg Dorrian said.