NBN fibre goes live in four more areas

NBN Co switched on parts of its fibre network in four states and territories late last week, making connections possible for about 9000 homes.

The network builder said in a blog post that services were switched on in parts of Hobart, Tasmania; Coffs Harbour, NSW; Toowoomba, Queensland; and Gungahlin, in the Australian Capital Territory.

Construction is also set to commence to a further 98,000 homes.

NBN Co released a fresh set of maps of areas to be included in the latest tranche of the rollout, which includes 10 parts of Australia that will see NBN contractors for the first time.

These include Maitland, NSW; Northam, Western Australia; and Gawler in South Australia.

According to NBN Co, work commences when it issues instructions to its contractors for a Fibre Service Access Module (FSAM). Each FSAM covers between 2000 and 3000 premises, the company said.

In the month following the issuing of contract instructions, NBN Co releases FSAM maps on its website giving more detailed information about the precise streets covered by the particular roll-out. 

In the past month, NBN Co has been talking up its construction ramp-up efforts, showing off contractors at work on the NSW Central Coast, in the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown, and in other areas across Australia.

NBN Co said earlier this month that it was slightly ahead of construction forecasts in its corporate plan. It said it had "commenced or completed" construction for 784,592 premises by the end of last year.

However, it is under increasing pressure to release figures for the number of premises within the network footprint that have actually taken an active service.