To do this we’re upgrading the local broadband network by extending fibre optic cables further into rural communities, upgrading local telephone exchanges with new broadband equipment and installing or upgrading 1,000 fibre-fed roadside cabinets.
Rural Broadband Initiative
Fibre, Further, Faster
We’re working to enable fibre based connections to 93 percent of rural schools and put high-speed broadband in reach of thousands more homes and businesses in harder to reach areas by the end of 2015.
The Rural Broadband Initiative is a joint project with Vodafone. Chorus is delivering fibre to schools, upgrading the rural network with fibre cabinets and broadband equipment and delivering fibre to the new Vodafone mobile sites that will deliver wireless broadband to rural communities. Find out more about Vodafone’s wireless broadband.
" About 57% of rural customers will be in reach of fixed-line broadband speeds of at least 5Mbps by the end of 2015 "
Our new fibre-fed roadside cabinets bring the broadband equipment closer to rural residents and paves the way for some 40,000 rural homes and businesses to access fixed line broadband services for the first time.
About half of the customers connected to our new cabinets and exchanges will be in reach of 10Mpbs broadband speeds or greater, because the closer you are to the broadband equipment the faster your broadband speeds will be.
To find out more about getting broadband services as a result of the Rural Broadband Initiative talk to your telecommunications service provider. If you are interested in getting fibre direct to your rural business, please contact us.
Rural Schools
Under the Rural Broadband Initiative more than 1000 rural schools will come within reach of 100Mbps broadband speeds.
Find out more about fibre to schools.
RBI Cabinet Rollout Plan
To find out more about the cabinet rollout in rural areas visit our Mapping Tool and we have developed an indicative list of the cabinets for upgrade or installation. The list is subject to change as we work with regional stakeholders and communities to identify priorities and opportunities for extending broadband coverage.
RBI Deployment Shape Files - Updated 14 November 2012
These shape files highlight the approximate broadband coverage areas for our Years 1 to 5 of our RBI rollout. While each RBI cabinet or exchange coverage area will highlight whether speeds of 1Mbps or 5Mbps are the expected attainable peak information rate, this is indicative information only and a formal prequalification check is required to confirm service availability.
School and Major Medical Facility Shape Files
The following maps indicate proposed fibre routes and school connections for the Rural Broadband Initiative.