Broadband allows animator Phil Jennings work flexibility. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
The National Broadband Network allowed Phil Jennings to move out of Sydney and work from home at Shell Cove.
The freelance animator and graphic designer had been renting in Sydney for 10 years before moving to Shell Cove about seven months ago.
"Before having access to the NBN I was living in Sydney," Mr Jennings said.
"I was working at home for a bit but, more often than not, I'd be in the studio at places I was working at.
"Access to the NBN was definitely a factor in allowing me to get out of Sydney.
"Before, they'd really need be to be there on site, to access their servers and all that. With the NBN we can work at almost the same speed without me having to be there."
Mr Jennings work includes file sharing, occasionally logging onto servers remotely and regular video conferencing and screen sharing.
"With screen sharing it's really good because they can see exactly what's on my screen at any time.
"Before they'd have to come into the studio and look over my shoulder. So now it's even easier than that."
Having access to the NBN also gave his clients more confidence that working from home wouldn't come with a raft of problems, including delays waiting for emailed files to reach their destination.
"A lot of people in the industry are still quite nervous about not having people in the studio," he said.
"Times and schedules are obviously quite tight and they can't really risk having too much down time, or waiting time.
"Having the NBN is a sweetener that gives them the confidence that it will work smoothly with me not being there."
The NBN allows him to work the way he desires.
"The big benefit in my eyes is the flexibility to work my own hours," Mr Jennings said.
" I still fit in with studio hours as much as possible but if I need to duck out, or if the surf's good, I can rejig my hours a little bit.
"Also there's the elimination of the morning and afternoon commute, which can be as much as two to four hours extra a day that I'm not sitting on a train or a bus."