NBN Co opts for low-key FTTC launch

NBN Co has opted for a surprisingly low-key launch for the first premises in its fibre-to-the-curb footprint that are ready to connect to retail services.

The network builder put out a short statement at 10.30pm prior to the Easter long weekend confirming “around 1000” premises could now order a service.

The premises are in Coburg in Victoria - a known test site for construction techniques as well as the first retail services - and Miranda, a Sutherland Shire suburb in Sydney’s far south.

The launch timing for the FTTC network has been a hot topic online in recent weeks, and was confirmed as imminent when enthusiasts began to see service pre-orders accepted by retail service providers last week.

FTTC was initially designated for around 700,000 premises - including those in the Optus HFC footprint whose existing technology was deemed too expensive or difficult to upgrade.

It was then expanded out to about one million premises.

A further expansion has been rumoured in industry circles in recent weeks, but is yet to be confirmed.

A joint federal inquiry into the NBN last year called for a “minimum” of fibre-to-the-curb in the rest of the fixed-line footprint, though that was rejected by the government.

NBN Co has previously said it took a proposal to convert the fibre-to-the-node footprint to fibre-to-the-curb to its board and government but the plan was rejected because it ran counter to the statement of expectations.