Work to connect almost 25,000 premises in the Maitland area to the National Broadband Network will begin next year, the federal government has announced.
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Construction of fixed line connections to the NBN will begin in the third quarter of 2016, the latest update from NBN Co. revealed yesterday.
Five hundred homes and businesses in Clarence Town will have access to the high-speed broadband as part of the latest roll out.
The work will provide connections for 6100 premises in Chisholm, Duckenfield, Hexham, Tarro, Thornton, Woodberry and Beresfield.
Fixed line connections will also be provided to about 17,600 homes and businesses in Ashtonfield, Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights, East Maitland, Gillieston Heights, Horseshoe Bend, Largs and Lorn.
Premises in Louth Park, Maitland, Metford, Morpeth, Oakhampton, Pitnacree, Raworth, Rutherford, South Maitland, Telarah, Tenambit, Windella and Aberglasslyn will also be among the 17,600 connections.
Paterson MP Bob Baldwin said the announcement was an important milestone for the region.
“The NBN will deliver internet access that’s fast, reliable and affordable,” he said.
“Better broadband will transform the way homes and businesses communicate, do business and access online services.”
The Mercury has reported in recent months that residents from suburbs such as Morpeth, Thornton and East Maitland could not get adequate internet service.
One Thornton man told the Mercury late last year that he had to climb onto the roof of his home to get enough wireless internet reception to check his work roster.
Work to deliver the NBN in parts of East Maitland, Morpeth and Tenambit began last July.
Fixed wireless NBN services are available in small pockets of Beresfield, near John Renshaw Drive, in Rutherford, near Victory Way and Grand Parade, and in parts of McKeachie’s Run.