Victorian government awards Spirit Telecom $1.7 million to deliver internet to regional city Horsham

Victoria’s state government has awarded Spirit Telecom with a contract to deliver internet services to the regional city of Horsham.

The $1.7 million deal involves the deployment of a fixed wireless network with five towers to be built across five city districts, delivering internet through beam-forming technology, which Spirit said is the first ratified technology for the global 5G standard.

“We are putting Horsham businesses on an even playing field with those in Melbourne and in other global centres – giving them the connectivity they deserve,” Victorian minister for regional development Jaala Pulford said.

“This project will be a game changer for local businesses. Symmetrical gigabit broadband will make them more efficient and change the way they do business and the products they offer locally and globally.”

Spirit said the network will give Horsham’s rural community and businesses the same internet access as their metropolitan, interstate and international counterparts.

Each tower will cover a 10km radius from each other throughout Horsham, including its CBD, Horsham Enterprise Park, Aerodrome and freight terminal precincts. Spirit also anticipates the network may reach businesses outside the city in locations such as Longerenong, Dooen and Haven.

The telco also claims that its fixed wireless network can deliver speeds of up to 1000Mbps through beam-forming technology, calling it a “genuine NBN alternative”.

“We believe our offering is market leading and will put to bed the mindset that 5G technology is purely a mobile play,” Spirit Telecom managing director Geoff Neate said.

“This is what we hang our hat on and are looking forward to strengthening the Horsham community’s access to super-fast internet.”