Small Businesses concerned over the NBN network

BY DANIELLE RIES

Hunter small business leaders have criticised small business minister Michael McCormack over inadequate broadband connections and that it might need revisiting.

Many businesses have been forced to relocate due to concerns over the NBN's speed and reliability, as the network was affecting their operations.

Hunter Business Chamber chief executive Bob Hawes says businesses aren't receiving what they want from the NBN network.

"The role out has been long anticipated and we know that is in progress and businesses as they go through the process of improving their performance and their offer is very much driven towards the digital economy without necessarily being able to distinguish individual circumstances.

"There's often a crossover when businesses go to do the upgrade that what their being offered by their providers doesn't meet their needs".

He also says the NBN network isn't quite living up to what they accepted.

"In some cases, people will have to relocate because of growth issues or to accommodate expansion or where their markets might be. But we are aware there are instances in the region where businesses have had to embrace a digital expansion and they've had to upgrade their facilities.

"And as a consequence where they are located, it hasn't been able to accommodate for their needs going forward".

Credit- The NBN website

NBN rolling out in Cessnock

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Cessnock is set to be connected to the National Broadband Network (NBN) in May, but there are concerns it could be just as problematic as a lot of other areas in the Hunter.

The Hunter was one of the first areas to be connected to the network, and while the federal government promised the NBN would deliver faster Internet speeds, it doesn't appear to have been the case.

The Cessnock CBD is first on the list to be connected and fibre-to-the-node construction rolling out over the next two months to the rest of the area.

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon is very concerned residents won't get the internet they deserve or pay for.

"Down on the Western side of Lake Macquarie unfortunately where people have had the NBN connected, they're finding it less reliable than their old ADSL system," said Joel Fitzgibbon.

He says wants hear from residents about their experience with the NBN so he can build a case to take to the Federal Government.

"People can call my office, they can email me, write me a letter, whatever they like and whatever is easiest for people. It's important that I have a good sense of how Malcom Turnbull's NBN is performing in the Hunter so I can give that feedback in Canberra," said Joel Fitzgibbon.

The NBN still giving Paterson MP a headache

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The roll out of the NBN network in the Hunter is still giving Paterson MP Meryl Swanson a headache.

The MP is calling for the Joint Standing Committee on the NBN roll out to visit Paterson and see for themselves the problems residents are experiencing.

Residents have had endless problems with not only the roll out itself, but problems connecting even after their suburb has gone live, complaint handling and blame shifting.

"Residents, businesses, people trying to just live their lives have had a terrible time. They've either been taken off the roll out list or their times have been put back considerably. it really has been substandard," said Meryl Swanson.

Meryl Swanson says the whole project has been a complete "stitch up" and the Prime Minister has completely failed to deliver.

"This government needs to understand and this prime minister needs to understand that his promise that we would have NBN by the end of last year has not been fulfilled and this whole idea that it was going to be faster and cheaper and it was just going to be better has not worked."

The call to the Joint Standing Committee to visit the region is one of six recommendations Meryl Swanson has made to the Committee.

The inefficient roll out is leaving businesses and families in the lurch, left without the technology they need for work or school, and the Paterson MP says it's contributing to the Hunter having the poorest digital literacy skills in the country because access to the necessary tools just isn't possible.

"The hunter is the worst in Australia and that's dreadful and that's not because our people aren't clever, it's because they don't have the tools to use the Internet to become more digitally literate, to become more proficient in the digital world you actually need decent service so you can get on and do things," said Meryl Swanson.

Investigations into Novocastrian's NBN internet speeds

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Whether it's through a big internet company, or a small one, many Novocastrians are still having problems with the NBN network and internet speed.

Newcastle was one of the first places on the mainland to be connected to the network with the majority of suburbs hooked up.

Internet speed is the primary concern when it comes to the NBN network, and now the federal government is funding the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to install, in lamens terms, little black boxes to record internet speeds of homes from different providers throughout the day.

"Even though 20 people may have the NBN, it's not actually the same thing. Each internet provider can have a better highway onto the internet connected to the NBN and so we want to find out, and the ACCC want to expose transparently, by publishing each month which internet providers are faster than the others," said technology commentator Trevor Long.

Newcastle are in the middle of internet speed problems caused by delays in getting the NBN connected, confirming whether or not you're actually connected and everyone trying to jump online all at once.

Trevor Long says Newcastle are being hit hard with problems but we should "come through them in the next six moths pretty quickly, then we'll simply be asking the question why is my internet fast or slow and which internet provider is responsible," which is where the ACCC data will be crucial. 

The information will also assist consumers in comparing and shopping around, and checking they actually receive what they're paying for.

"The technology mix doesn't matter to the average Joe, they just want better internet and that is what the NBN will deliver. We've just got to get past all the politics and get it installed. So there'll be a couple more years of this back and forth debating until we've all got it, but after that I guess we'll all be asking how we get it faster," said Trevor Long.