How and when Mudgee will be connected to the National Broadband Network is uncertain after NBN Co. made several changes to its rollout website on Wednesday.
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Construction for the NBN began in Mudgee during October 2012 and the town was originally labelled as one of the first places to be connected to the super fast network.
However a change of federal government means NBN Co. has scaled back its plans on the basis of implementing a cheaper fibre-to-the-node system.
As of Tuesday NBN Co.’s website said Mudgee was likely to have access within 12 months of construction. Now the website simply says “Not currently available”.
It has been reported NBN Co. is now keeping construction areas from the public and around two-thirds of areas previously marked as “Construction Commenced” have been removed from the official NBN coverage maps, leaving those areas in limbo.
The problem is felt across Australia as “Ready for Service” dates have been revoked for more than 500,000 premises which were previously told exactly when they would be able to connect to the NBN fibre network.
NBN Co. will now be publishing weekly updates on progress for the transition.
The federal government is expected to complete its 60-day strategic review of the NBN rollout next month.
An NBN Co. press release said on Wednesday other factors that have impacted the build include mobilisation issues and the recent halt to work on pit and pipe infrastructure while a review of asbestos maintenance and handling procedures was carried out.