THE Coalition plans to slash the fibre-to-the-premises NBN rollout in Tasmania, a digital peak body said today.
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Digital Tasmania spokesman Andrew Connor said some areas previously marked for FTTP connection within one-to-three years by NBN Co have already been scrapped.
The roll-back hit-list includes major Launceston and Hobart suburbs, as well as many neighbouring districts to city centres.
The plan to scrap an initial plan to connect fibre-to-the-home is in contrast to Liberal statements made mid-August by Coalition internet spokesman Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull told ?The Examiner? on August 17 that any plans to back out on existing NBN Co contracts in the state ``would be to breach them and that is a course we would not countenance''.
A day earlier Mr Turnbull told online news producer ?znet.com? ``This is not just a commitment to honour contracts where construction is underway but all contracts which have been entered into.''.
Mr Connor said the ``slashing'' of Tasmania's FTTP internet scheme was a direct contrast to pre-election promises made by the Liberal party.
``Given that NBN work in Tasmania has already been fully contracted, any change now would only slow down the rollout and establish a clear digital divide between neighbouring streets and suburbs, which will in turn affect house prices,'' he said.
``Already 35,000-plus premises can connect to the NBN fibre optic service throughout Tasmania, with between 25 and 50 per cent of residents taking up that option already. Thousands more premises were scheduled.''
Launceston area:
- Riverside.
- Mowbray, Newnham, Mayfield, Rocherlea, Newnham.
- Prospect, South Launceston, Summerhill.
- Norwood, Punchbowl.
- Blackstone Heights, Prospect Vale, Summerhill, West Launceston, Prospect.
- St Leonards.
- Relbia, Western Junction, Youngtown.
Other Northern areas:
- Hadspen, Legana, Perth, Evandale.
- Legana, Rosevears, Grindelwald.
- Bell Bay, Low Head, Beechford.
- Swan Bay, Turners Marsh, Windermere, Dilston.
- Devonport, Burnie, Westbury, Latrobe.
Hobart and Eastern Shore:
- New Town, North Hobart, Mount Stuart.
- Mount Stuart, Lenah Valley.
- Sandy Bay, Tolmans Hill, Mount Nelson.
- Rose Bay, Lindisfarne.
- Grasstree Hill, Risdon, Geilston Bay.
- Risdon, Risdon Vale, Grasstree Hill.
- Cremorne, Sandford, Clifton Beach, South Arm, Opossum Bay.
