017/07
7 March 2007

$162.5 million for Australian Broadband Guarantee

Australians will now be able to access broadband services regardless of where they live thanks to the Australian Government's $162.5 million Australian Broadband Guarantee, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced today.

The Australian Broadband Guarantee will fill in any remaining broadband blackspots across Australia and will build on the success of the Government's $878 million Broadband Connect program and the $50 million Metro Broadband Connect program.

It will provide a smooth transition to the $600 million Broadband Connect infrastructure program which will rollout sustainable and scalable next generation infrastructure in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia.

“Broadband is an essential service for both individuals and business and is vital for Australia's future economic prosperity,” Senator Coonan said.

“The Australian Government has already provided substantial funding that has seen over 205,000 homes and businesses get a subsidised high quality broadband service and an additional one million premises gain access to broadband services.

“The Australian Broadband Guarantee will provide universal broadband for all Australians. Anyone unable to gain a reasonable level of broadband service at their principal place of residence or small business will receive a subsidised broadband service. It's as simple as that.”

For consumers, the Guarantee will be very similar to the popular and highly successful Broadband Connect program. The Guarantee will continue to give eligible consumers subsidised, price capped broadband with a guaranteed minimum level of service, but with the benefit of simpler eligibility requirements.

The first phase of the Guarantee will run until June 2008 when the funds from the Government's $2 billion Communications Fund will come on stream. This will enable the Government to continue the Australian Broadband Guarantee for as long as in necessary to ensure all Australians have access to broadband regardless of where they live.

The Guarantee is part of the transition to the $600 million Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program. The infrastructure program will establish an efficient, sustainable broadband infrastructure base across regional Australia to enable the roll-out of higher speed broadband.

More details on the Australian Broadband Guarantee are available at www.dcita.gov.au/broadband_guarantee