NBN to release progress data each month

NBN Co has announced it will now release a progress report each month so people can track improvements to services delivered on the National Broadband Network (NBN).

For the first time, Australians will be able to track metrics on how the wholesale NBN access network is delivering on key measures such as the number of homes and businesses which can connect to the NBN, network congestion levels, the percentage of homes and businesses on a 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download wholesale speed plan or higher, installations completed right the first time and the average number of faults.

For the month of February, the percentage of right first time installations (homes and businesses that have their NBN equipment installed without additional work from NBN Co the first time the installation is attempted) rose from 87 per cent in November to 89 per cent now.

The estimated monthly average percentage of homes and businesses that experience NBN congestion dropped from 0.168 per cent in November to 0.119 now.

The biggest improvement appears to be in the average number of minutes of bandwidth congestion per week per service, which has dropped dramatically from 231 (nearly four hours) in November to only 12 now.

“We have listened to the community’s feedback and want to assure all Australians that end-user’s customer experience is the number one priority of every employee working at NBN Co,” NBN Co chief customer officer (residential) Brad Whitcomb said.

“Significant progress has been made to improve the speeds delivered during peak hours, with internet and phone providers now provisioning more bandwidth on the network than before we announced our new wholesale pricing options.

“This has helped to relieve bandwidth congestion on the network from an average of around four hours to 12 minutes per week and to deliver improved broadband services for millions of Australians.”

Speaking at a community forum in Aireys Inlet on Saturday, Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson said the rollout of the NBN in her electorate was 94 per cent complete, which was “very strong” compared to other electorates across Australia.