New research by comparison site, finder.com.au, suggests there is a divide between those anticipating the National Broadband Network and those who know little to nothing about it.
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The survey of 2,004 respondents found there are two groups at polar opposites: over one in four (28 per cent) - equivalent to five million people - say they will switch to the network as soon as it’s available at their address.
At the other end of the scale, 37 per cent (6.7 million) admitted that they don’t know anything about the NBN and that they don’t plan to switch over to the network.
Alex Kidman, tech expert at finder.com.au said it’s surprising that some Australians think they can ‘say no’ to the NBN.
“By 2020, every household in Australia will have to switch to the NBN - there’s simply no way around it,” he said.
“What’s interesting is that there doesn’t seem to be much of a middle ground among Australians.
“There are those who absolutely cannot wait for it to arrive, and then close to two fifths haven’t got a clue.”
NBN predicts that by mid next year, around half the 11.9 million planned premises will be able to connect to the network.
“It’s a long road ahead till all premises are connected, with many having to wait till 2020, so it’s easy to understand the excitement of some Australians who can connect well before then,” Mr Kidman said.
“In fact 13 per cent plan to connect to the NBN on the very same day it’s hooked up at their address.
“While it may not always be technically feasible, it shows that these Aussies are busting to get connected.”
A further 15 per cent plan to have connected within a week of it becoming available and 16 per cent say they’ll be connected to NBN services within that month.
But almost one in five (18 per cent) admit they don’t have a clue about the NBN or know when they will get on-board and a further 17 per cent say they don’t intend to switch to the NBN at all.
Then there’s two per cent who plan to connect 18-24 months after their premise is NBN-ready, which is after the disconnection point.
Mr Kidman warns it’s “switch or get cut off”.
“In this day and age, access to internet services is like access to water or power," he said. “It’s your communications hub, whether you’re a consumer or a business. If you don’t update your internet service, both your phone line and internet will be disconnected.”