Residents in Dapto are a step closer to throwing away their modems and dial-up internet connections, with the NBN fibre optic cable roll-out starting today.
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What’s known as hauling fibre - tying the cable to a rope and pulling it through from one pit to the next - began at the western end of Byamee Street this morning.
NBN Co spokesman Darren Rudd said when the fibre was connected to homes it would make a sizeable difference to some families.
‘‘I’ve just found out that half the properties down the end of the street are still on dial-up, so we’re going to get over that issue for a start,’’ Mr Rudd said.
‘‘We’re also going to get uniform connectivity to the home. It doesn’t matter what time of day, how wet the ground is, what sort of moisture is in the air, what coating they’ve got on the copper - we’re going to have fibre running right into the house.’’
Fibre-hauling is the second-last phase before the service is switched on and Mr Rudd said residents could expect to see four or five trucks carrying large rolls of cable in their streets over the next few months.
The final stage is where the connection to the exchange is made and the fibre is tested.
‘‘On average, if everything goes to plan, it’s around six months to do the fibre haul and the testing and integration is about a month.
‘‘So you’re looking at consumers getting notes in the first half of next year saying it’s ready to go’’.
As well as the effort to connect Dapto and surrounding suburbs of Horsley, Brownsville, Penrose and Kanahooka, work is in planning or construction in the following suburbs: central and west Wollongong, Mount Keira, Keiraville, Mangerton, Corrimal, Russell Vale, Bellambi, East Corrimal, Tarrawanna and Fernhill.
NBN Co is aiming for construction in parts of these areas to be completed over the next 12 to 14 months.
