Delays and disruptions in the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) are costing NSW businesses, on average, more than $9000, according to a survey by the NSW Business Chamber.
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The Chamber’s New England regional manager, Joe Townsend, said it the “sorry state of affairs” had left members “high and dry, without internet for weeks at a time”.
While only Armidale and Quirindi are currently connected to the NBN, he said the rollout issues needed to be solved as the region’s other centres began connecting over the next 12 months.
On average, businesses waited four weeks to get the NBN service up and running. The Tamworth rollout has been delayed and is expected to be finished by January 2018.
The region also rated mobile communications as its second most frustrating telecommunications service.
“With the state average of 10.7 per cent, the New England North West is NSW’s most frustrated region with reliable, and affordable mobile communication at 18 per cent,” Mr Townsend said.