Regional towns added to Tasmanian fibre rollout

The Federal Government has announced stage two of Tasmania's National Broadband Network roll-out, with seven regional locations set to receive "superfast" broadband connections with "speeds of 100 megabits per second".

According to a statement released by Prime Minister Rudd and Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett, "seven new, regional, urban and outer urban locations across Tasmania will receive superfast optical fibre broadband connections with speeds of 100 megabits per second" under the plan.

The locations to be connected include Sorell, Triabunna, South Hobart and Kingston Beach - all relatively close to the Hobart, the regional town of Deloraine, George Town on Tasmania's northern coastline and St Helens to the North East.

The second stage of the roll-out will also include the completion of backbone optic fibre transmission links on the east coast of Tasmania between Kingston and a new industrial hub being developed at Westbury.

"Work will begin immediately," the statement said.

The Government said the areas were chosen on the criteria that they were both "under-serviced relative to major metropolitan areas" and because they "stand most to gain from high speed broadband services".

In July, the communities of Smithton, Midway Point and Scottsdale were announced for stage one of the broadband roll-out in Tasmania.

Premises not receiving a fibre connection are promised wireless and satellite networks offering minimum speeds of 12 megabits per second.

Responding to questions at the National Press Club, the Premier of Tasmania David Bartlett said that there were "very aggressive timelines for the roll-out of [the] optic fibre".

"I think Tasmania will be a long way ahead of the pack by 2014," he said.