Launtel wants Tasmania to be Australia's first gigabit state

Tasmanian telco Launtel has launched gigabit NBN services in Hobart, claiming it to be Australia's first gigabit capital city.

The telco said its Blue Ocean Gigabit service offered businesses internet speeds ten times faster than any other fibre-to-the-premises service available in Tasmania.

Launtel started selling gigabit services in Launceston four months ago, claiming it to be the first gigabit city in Australia. Chief executive Michael Costigan said the addition of Hobart with gigabit speeds was the first step in transforming Tasmania into the first gigabit state in Australia.

"Today we will be adding Hobart as Australia’s first capital city to boast gigabit NBN internet. After that, we can look forward to the opportunity to upgrade other areas of Tasmania such as Burnie and Devonport on to the pure fibre gigabit network,” he said.

Wollongong claimed the title of Australia's first gigabit town in June when MyRepublic selected the NSW coastal city to start selling gigabit plans on the NBN.

Costigan said Tasmania should seize the opportunity to become Australia's version of Silicon Valley by becoming the country's point of contact for other digital economies.

"The introduction of gigabit internet adds a new economic driver that offers high-wage employment opportunities and environmentally friendly growth," he said.

"It’s an industry that firmly places Tasmania at the forefront of the high-tech industry in Australia, and makes it the logical business location for Australian businesses wishing to interact on equal terms with other high-speed economies around the world."